With one ticket, you can visit the Van Gogh Experience at the Van Gogh Kerk and the Museum Sint Paulushofje. The Experience is a 20-minute multimedia show featuring life-size projections and immersive sound. The Van Gogh Kerk also houses a replica of Vincent van Gogh’s first studio. From Etten-Leur NS railway station, it is about a ten-minute walk to Van Gogh Etten-Leur.
Culture, architecture and local history
Sint Paulushofje, on the Markt in the centre, was founded in 1681. Thirteen houses surround a small square with a water pump in the middle. Trouwkerkje is a Rijksmonument dating from 1614. Sint-Lambertuskerk is a Neo-Gothic cruciform basilica in the centre of Etten-Leur. The history of Bisschopsmolen also goes back a long way: it was built for the Bishop of Antwerp in 1744.
Visitors who want to discover art and architecture along routes will find a range of options with different focuses. The Beeldig Etten-Leur cycling route passes 36 works of art spread across Etten-Leur. Kerken en kapellen passes six churches and chapels in Etten-Leur; the Molenroute passes three windmills: Korenmolen de Lelie, Bisschopsmolen and Zwartbergse Molen. This makes it easy to choose based on your interests, without the routes needing to form one combined route.
Events and technical history
The municipal carillon in the town hall tower has 49 bells. It plays every Wednesday during the weekly market, from 10 to 11 a.m. As schedules may change, we recommend checking the current time before your visit.
Aviation history is also part of the local story: the first powered aircraft take-off in the Netherlands took place in 1909 in the southern outskirts of Etten-Leur. A replica of a Wright Flyer was unveiled in 2009 to mark 100 years of aviation in the Netherlands. It is considered the world’s largest Wright Flyer monument and stands on a six-metre-high steel pole. At the van Osch Museum, you can see engines and steam engines in operation. There is also a large library of old textbooks and documents. The museum is open only on limited days, so check the current schedule in advance.
Walking, landscapes and water
The Van Gogh National Park walking route in Etten-Leur is 14 kilometres long; 98 per cent of it follows unpaved paths. It passes through farmland and rugged fields with characteristic pollard willows, through woods, and alongside ponds, streams and picturesque fenland. For a shorter walk, consider the green Laarzenpad in the Kelsdonk/Zwermlaken nature area: it starts at Windgat, is 3.5 kilometres long and can be walked year-round. Check current trail conditions before setting out.
The 706-hectare Pannenhoef nature area lies in the wider region around Etten-Leur, between Etten-Leur, Zundert, Rijsbergen and Sprundel. De Turfvaart offers something different: its facilities include a marina, a swimming lake and a play area with a beach volleyball court and basketball hoops. SUP boards can be rented at De Turfvaart; check availability before your trip.
When planning, it is worth considering the different formats separately: the Van Gogh Experience has a stated duration, the carillon has a fixed weekly schedule, and the walking trails have specified lengths.
For the main travel overview: Etten-Leur.
