De Liskes comprises 13 ponds and is the largest complex in the Parelsnoer van Wijers. From the bird hide, the view extends in every direction across connected ponds. At the main dike and the hide, you can look out for garganeys, great egrets and bluethroats. The bird hide is also a stop on the De Dansende Katten van Bergeijk cycling route; check the current route before setting off.
Heathland and trails
Bergeijk’s old heathland cultivation areas are mostly semi-open agricultural landscapes. Long and short sightlines alternate with avenues, groves, hedgerows and rows of trees. This small-scale landscape provides a distinctive setting for recreational routes: views repeatedly open up, while hedgerows and rows of trees frame other sections. The nature trail at De Plateaux is also suitable for wheelchair users and strollers.
Three hikes differ mainly in length and landscape. The 3.3-kilometre Vloeiweiden route passes through forest, heathland and the historic Vloeiweiden. At 3.5 kilometres, Ganzenbroek is only 200 metres longer and runs through the valleys of the Keersop and Beekloop, through forest and farmland, and along old sandy tracks. For those wishing to compare these routes with a longer hike, the Panoramapad Bergeijk offers a 7.3-kilometre loop that starts and ends in Bergeijk. Along the way are forest, heathland, fen landscapes and Vloeiweiden; check current route conditions before hiking.
Walking Route 1: Bergeijk–Waalre on the Liberation Route Brabant offers a different historical perspective. The 26-kilometre section follows the first part of the route taken by the liberators on Dutch soil. The route and its signage may change; check both before setting off.
Memorial sites and design
The Poort der Bevrijding is a granite memorial stone at the De Barrier border crossing. An inscription, the municipal coat of arms of Bergeijk, and the emblems of the Prinses Irene Brigade and the Household Cavalry identify the monument. The first liberators passed through the crossing on 11 September 1944. The Poort commemorates Operation Market Garden, which lasted from 17 to 26 September 1944. These two dates place the site in the specific chronology of the liberation.
Bergeijk’s design history can also be explored at several locations. The De Ploeg textile factory was designed by architect Gerrit Rietveld. Cultuurhuis Bergeijk showcases the design heritage of Rietveld, Mien Ruys, De Ploeg and Martin Visser. There are also exhibitions and guided tours at various locations in Bergeijk associated with Rietveld and Ruys. You can book a guided Rietveld safari at least two weeks in advance; check the current dates when planning.
Crafts and local stories
At the Bakkerijmuseum De Grenswachter, bread and pastries take centre stage. In workshops, visitors make Brabantse Worstenbroodjes, Kruimelvlaai or bread themselves. The publicly accessible museum also offers demonstrations using a wood-fired oven dating from 1850. As the programme and booking conditions may change, check them before your visit. Museum De Sigarenmaker offers a look at another craft tradition: the history and processing of tobacco, complemented by the interior of an old tobacco shop.
In Luyksgestel, the De Deen windmill tells the story of milling. It was built in 1839 and restored to working order in March 2011. The discoveries around Bergeijk bring together different kinds of heritage: design and architecture, memorial sites, tobacco processing, baking traditions and milling technology.
Practical information
Bergeijk can be reached by bus via the Brabant and Belgian cities of Eindhoven, Weert and Lommel. Check the current timetable for your journey. Visit Bergeijk offers ideas for excursions, maps, walking tours and dining tips for Bergeijk and its core villages. This lets you plan nature trails, cultural sites and local themes around your interests, without committing to just one way of exploring.
Discover more destinations: Bergeijk, Luyksgestel, Westerhoven, Someren, Steenbergen, Geertruidenberg, ’S-Hertogenbosch, Sint-Michielsgestel.
Back to the main travel overview: North Brabant.
