Maarheeze can be explored from two perspectives: its architectural and local history, and its woodlands and heathland. St. Gertrudis Church and a house dating from around 1880 provide tangible focal points for its cultural side; woodlands and heathland offer space for walking. The village is located directly on the A2 and is accessible by train. When planning, you can weigh up whether culture, nature, or both will be the deciding factor.

Church and Local Tradition

St. Gertrudis Church in Maarheeze was built by L. de Vries in 1909–1910 and is a particularly well-preserved example of Neo-Romanesque architecture. Neo-Romanesque refers to the revival of Romanesque forms in later architecture; in this case, it is a church built in the early 20th century. Next to the church is the “Oud parochiekerkhof St. Gertrudis Maarheeze”.

The church’s history also includes an earlier tradition: it once possessed a piece of Saint Gertrude’s cloak. Water was blessed with this piece of fabric and could then be used to drive away rats, mice, and other pests. This water was called “muuzewater”. The story links the saint’s name to a historical religious practice and everyday life at the time.

House and Cemetery

The house at Kerkstraat 9 dates from around 1880 and is designed in the eclectic style. The term generally refers to a design that combines elements from different styles. In cultural-historical terms, the house is significant as a distinctive example of homes built for the local elite within the existing village setting. It is also an example of the typological development of village houses. The house thus brings together local social history and the development of a type of dwelling.

The Roman Catholic cemetery at Kerkstraat 20 is a municipal monument. It may date from the 16th century and was renovated in 1754. Together with the house and the church, it offers a broad view of Maarheeze’s architectural and local history: from a possible 16th-century date, through a house from around 1880, to the church built in 1909–1910.

Woodland, Heathland, and Kasteel Cranendonck

The woodlands and heathland in Maarheeze offer space for outdoor walks. The Pan nature area lies northeast of Maarheeze and covers around 300 hectares of deciduous and mixed woodland, heathland, and marshes. With its mix of landscapes, Pan differs from the more general walking opportunities in the village’s woodlands and heathland. If you would like to include nature in your stay, you can weigh up these different options when planning.

The surroundings of Kasteel Cranendonck in Soerendonk, with the visible contours of the old castle, are suited to a walk or a stop along a cycling route. The Maarheeze–Craenendonck site is a national archaeological monument containing the remains of Kasteel Cranendonck. The connection to the castle adds another way to explore the history of the area.

Getting There and Planning

Maarheeze is located directly on the A2 and is accessible by train. If you plan to travel by train, check the timetable for your specific travel dates. When planning a stay, you can first decide whether architectural history, walking, or both will be the deciding factor. If you would like to combine several of these themes, you can tailor the length of your planned stay to your interests.

Discover more destinations: Cranendonck, Gastel, Budel, Budel-Dorplein, Soerendonk.

Go to the main travel overview: Cranendonck.