Discover Veghel: Culture, Nature and Water
Accommodation in Veghel
Veghel combines industrial history with culture, culinary delights and green landscapes. The Chocolate Factory is located in a former factory tower at the Noordkade, which is considered an important piece of historic heritage. The Noordkade is situated on the site where the CHV cooperative started operating its largest compound feed factory in 1915. Today, the former factory halls host music, dance, theatre and culinary offerings.
Industrial History, Museums and Church Architecture
The Chocolate Factory is an interactive and educational attraction for visitors of all ages and features the Verdieping 10 rooftop bar. At the SIEMei Museum, examples of industrial and craft activities in the Meierij can be seen through typesetting machines, wood chippers, an excavator, old telephones, tools and a bandsaw machine. SIEMei also offers bookable guided tours of the Noordkade. At De Proeffabriek, visitors can experience, see, taste and buy products.
The Sint-Lambertus Church in Veghel is a large three-aisled Neo-Gothic cruciform basilica, a Rijksmonument and a design by Pierre Cuypers. It was severely damaged during the Second World War and Operation Market Garden; after the liberation, it was completely restored with some modifications. The former medieval Sint-Lambertus Church on Den Kerkhof was built by the Aa River in the 12th century and demolished around 1872 after the inauguration of the new church. Villa Klondike is also part of the history of Operation Market Garden: at that time, it was the headquarters of Colonel Howard R. Johnson.
Art and Routes through Veghel
Veghel offers several different routes for walks with a historical and artistic focus. The Historisch Veghel walking route is 6.5 kilometres long. The art walking route leads to outdoor artworks and lets visitors experience Veghel as an open-air museum. A ten-metre-high piece of facade art along this route honours the Franciscan Sisters of Veghel and depicts the story of Creation.
The 18-kilometre route along the Duits Lijntje railway line passes through Olland, Schijndel, Eerde, Veghel and Mariaheide. The old railway bridge over the Aa is a Rijksmonument; the bicycle bridge next to it bears the names of all former stops along the Duits Lijntje. Those wishing to combine landscape and farming history can follow the Dorshout and Aa-Broeken route through meadows, ridge-and-furrow fields and centuries-old farmhouses in the hamlet of Dorshout, as well as through the Aa-Broeken nature area.
Wetland, Park and Water Experiences
Aa-Broeken is a low-lying wetland. There, groundwater emerges as seepage water; because of the moisture, many plant species grow that traditionally occur along the Aa and in the low-lying marshlands around Veghel. The Aa-Broeken walking route starts near the Veghel market at the edge of Julianapark and uses signposted walking junctions. The starting point is junction 54. As a green park, Kloostertuin Veghel features old trees, a body of water, a cemetery, benches, sculptures and a surrounding moat; the entrance gates are open during the day.
The Fluisterboot Veghel departs from the market and travels along the Aa through Aa-Broeken to the historic Zwanenburg estate. It operates regularly from April to September on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays; tickets can be booked online up to 48 hours before departure. A round trip on the Zuid-Willemsvaart starts at the Noordkade and follows the industrial port in the direction of the lock near Schijndel. From the Noordkade, visitors can also explore Veghel harbour and the Zuid-Willemsvaart by SUP board.
Passantenhaven Veghel has more than 30 berths, as well as electricity and water at the jetties, a sewage pump-out facility, sanitary facilities, a washing machine and dryer, free Wi-Fi and rental bicycles. The Kunstfietsroutes in Veghel and the surrounding area passes through Veghel, Eerde, Zijtaart, Keldonk and Erp; it combines outdoor artworks with nature and terraces along the route.
Your Holiday Apartment in Veghel to Suit Your Travel Plans
If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Veghel, you can tailor your plans to different holiday activities: culture and culinary delights at the Noordkade, history around the Sint-Lambertus Church, walks in Aa-Broeken or water experiences on the Aa and Zuid-Willemsvaart. The current range of art, culture and heritage in the central areas of Meierijstad includes, among other things, a cinema, a museum, a food market, The Chocolate Factory and various restaurants.
For the overarching travel overview: Veghel.
