Holiday apartment in Woensdrecht on the Brabantse Wal

Woensdrecht lies on the border between Brabant and Zeeland, right in the middle of the Brabantse Wal. Here, higher sandy soils transition into lower-lying marine clay polders. Among heathland, forests, dunes, bodies of water and polder landscapes, nature experiences blend with mills, gardens and museums. The region’s history is also present in many places.

Nature

The Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide has an official entrance at the Volksabdij in Ossendrecht. The Volksabdij entrance can be reached by bicycle, public transport and car; there is a bicycle rack and free parking for visitors. The Grenspark includes heathlands, pools, dunes, forests, meadows and polders that provide habitats for rare plants and animals.

The Poortfietslus Woensdrecht follows the Brabantse Wal, an escarpment between the higher Brabant sands and the lower-lying polders. Above the ridge, the route passes through forest and heathland and by pools. The Grenspark is also home to Kortenhoeff, a nature area of around 100 hectares between Hoogerheide and Huijbergen, managed by Staatsbosbeheer. Kortenhoeff comprises wet and dry heathland, sand-drift dunes, two weakly buffered pools and an acidic pool; this combination provides a habitat for many special species.

The Noordpolder is also one of the landscapes with remarkable wildlife. It is a breeding area for many meadow birds, while its ponds attract dragonflies and amphibians. The 5-kilometre walking route Langs de Brabantse Wal passes information boards about the Noordpolder and offers a panoramic table and binoculars along the way.

Trails

Several trails connect the landscape with local history. The approximately 4-kilometre Paadje van Kaatje is a circular route through Ossendrecht and follows the path that Marie Adolphine took every day during her childhood between her home and school. It begins at the Adolphine Chapel on Adolpineplein in Ossendrecht. Five comic-style panels depict scenes from the life of Saint Sister Marie Adolphine.

The Kloosterrondwandeling Huijbergen connects Huijbergen and Ossendrecht along the Dutch-Belgian border. It leads over forest paths, past water-rich areas, through dunes and along centuries-old roads.

Culture

The Den Aanwas Museum in Ossendrecht tells the story of Paulina Musters against the historical background of southwestern Brabant at that time. From the museum, an approximately one-hour village walk with an audio tour leads through Ossendrecht. The Wilhelmietenmuseum is located in the gatehouse of the former Wilhelmieten monastery in Huijbergen. In six rooms, it presents the history of the Order of the Wilhelmieten and the Congregation of the Brothers of Huijbergen.

The Molen Johanna is a round stone windmill on Bergsestraat in Huijbergen, in the municipality of Woensdrecht. It was built in 1862 and is now regularly operated by volunteer millers. In the building next to the mill, visitors can enjoy coffee and tea and buy mill products.

Landgoed Mattemburgh was created in several phases between approximately 1843 and 1878: initially with an English garden around the villa, later with a courtyard garden and also with a French garden with an orangery. The Wings Over Woensdrecht aviation heritage museum preserves relics and memories of aviation history in and around Woensdrecht military air base.

History

The Oorlogsmuseum Ossendrecht covers the period from 1939 to 1945, with a particular focus on the Battle of the Scheldt. It displays uniforms, vehicles, weapons and medical equipment. Visitors can see a train carriage from this period and a fully furnished bunker. The museum can also offer a Battle Tour, visiting monuments and battlefields in the area around the museum as well as sites connected with the Battle of Antwerp and the Scheldt.

The Woensdrecht Battle Monument honours the Canadian soldiers who fought and died for the liberation of Woensdrecht. An original M4 Sherman tank, previously used by the Canadians in combat, was unveiled at Onderstal in 1978 in their memory.

Further exploration includes the destination pages for Hoogerheide, Ossendrecht, Woensdrecht and Huijbergen.

For the higher-level travel overview: North Brabant.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Schijndel, Boxtel, Asten, Steenbergen.