When planning a stay in Heesch, you can choose between cycling tours, hikes and opportunities to explore the town’s history. Routes range from a 3.8 km hike to a 186 km long-distance hike over nine stages. Heesch is both the starting point of a cycling route and the destination of the long-distance trail. This makes it easy to decide whether to focus on a local tour or a section of a longer hike.

Cycling and hiking in Heesch

The 50 km Geopark Noord Cycling Route starts at the Bomenpark in Heesch. The restaurant in the Bomenpark is a starting point for hikers and cyclists exploring the surrounding area. It serves fresh coffee, pastries, lunch, a gourmet dinner and drinks. So if you’re planning a tour, you can also consider stopping here for a meal or a coffee break. In addition to the starting point of the Geopark route, the 12 km Heesch route is located at the Bomenpark on Vorsselweg.

For a shorter hike, the 3.8 km Wandeling Heesch Koningsweg is a specific option. As route information can change, it’s worth checking the latest description before setting out. The Hooge Vorssel Heesch route passes over heathland, through forests and across a golf course. It starts at the parking lot near the intersection of Nistelrodeseweg and Wijststraat, by Kortdreef. This gives it a different landscape and starting point from the route located at the Bomenpark.

The long-distance hike Links en rechts van de Peelrandbreuk covers a much greater distance: it is 186 km long and runs in nine stages from Vlodrop in Midden-Limburg to Heesch in Noord-Brabant. Heesch is the destination of this route. If you’re planning a longer hike, you can therefore consider the town as its endpoint; the shorter routes in and around Heesch offer independent options for planning your trip.

Architectural history and remembrance

The town’s history can also be traced through specific places and dates. The former town hall of Heesch at 't Dorp 61 has been a Rijksmonument (national heritage site) since 22 August 2002. At Vinkelsestraat 57 stands a farmhouse built around 1890 in traditional craftsmanship-inspired forms. The two buildings reflect different historical functions and architectural styles.

In Heesch, the Bernheze Cycling Route leads to the Heemschuur. The local history association is housed there in a former barn dating from 1953, next to a long-gabled farmhouse from 1897. This route connection therefore links local history with two neighboring buildings from different periods. A war memorial in Heesch commemorates the civilian victims and military personnel who lost their lives in Heesch during the Battle of Heesch.

The town’s religious history goes back further: the first parish in Heesch was founded around the middle of the 13th century. The oldest known church was dedicated to St. Peter in Chains and dates from the 15th century. Together with the later buildings and the war memorial, it offers a perspective on different chapters of the town’s history.

Discover more destinations: Vorstenbosch, Nistelrode, Heeswijk-Dinther

Return to the main travel overview: Bernheze.