26 national monuments and 39 municipal monuments give the history of Gilze En Rijen a tangible framework. You encounter it not only in individual buildings, but also in places of remembrance, village stories and routes. If you would like to visit a monument, check its entry beforehand.
Places of remembrance and village stories
An unusual chapter leads to Kamp Rijen: in 1831, more than 13,000 soldiers were housed there in a tent city made of linen and heath sods. The camp was as large as Breda was at the time. Numerous rectangular pits are visible on the site; access may vary because of its military use.
The Herinneringsroute Tweede Wereldoorlog (Second World War Remembrance Route) links commemorative plaques, three Liberation Columns and two chapels of gratitude. It is also a 31-kilometre cycling route through the municipality’s four village centres. Another place of remembrance is in the cemetery in Gilze: the war memorial names 88 war victims from Gilze, Rijen, Hulten and Molenschot. The Dutch Dodenherdenking (Remembrance of the Dead) is held there every year on 4 May. If you would like to attend the commemoration, check the current arrangements beforehand.
In Gilze, Heemkring Molenheide is dedicated to the history of Gilze, Rijen, Hulten and Molenschot. At the Heemgebouw, the association offers a heritage garden and exhibitions on local history; exhibition dates may vary. Villa Mol continues to shape the centre of Gilze and illustrates the influence of the Mol family on the village. In Rijen, a 32-metre-high factory chimney still marks the site of the former factory from a distance.
In Molenschot, the oldest known reference to the Sint Annakapel dates back to 1549. For a long time, single people and couples hoping to have a child have made pilgrimages to Sint Anna, lit a candle and prayed for a life partner or the birth of a child. If you would like to learn more about this tradition, enquire about the relevant visiting and event arrangements.
Green spaces and trails
Mollebos is a public park in the centre of Gilze, created from a former ornamental garden. Almost 80 trees grow there, including five trees designated as national monuments: three horse chestnuts, a lime tree and a beech. The park also serves, on a modest scale, as a venue for cultural activities.
More than 250 plants, shrubs and trees grow in Boerenblomhof. It can be visited on the first Sunday of each month, provided that day falls within the exhibition’s opening days; check the dates in advance. The paths are designed to be wheelchair accessible.
Woodland also shapes the municipality beyond its landscaped green spaces: extensive forests lie near Chaam to the south, and the Boswachterij Dorst pine forest is near Rijen. The varied landscapes can be explored via walking and cycling trails and themed routes.
For a circular walk starting in Gilze, consider the 6.1-kilometre Ommetje Leemkuilen. It starts at Café De Hooikar, Alphensweg 14a, and passes the De Schaepsdyck farm shop, which sells regional products, as well as a restored Steenfabriek (brickworks). Check the route conditions before setting off; if you plan to visit the farm shop, check whether it is open.
The 3.7-kilometre Boomkikkerpad starts at Landgoed Toxandria, Veenstraat 89, in Molenschot. Part of an ecological corridor, it runs through farmland, woodland and the characteristic village. Another option is the 3-kilometre Historische dorpswandeling (Historic Village Walk) through Rijen: the circular route runs north of the railway line and passes national monuments, municipal monuments and works of art. This lets you choose between routes of different lengths and with different focuses, without separating local history from the landscape experience.
Getting there and finding your way
Gilze-Rijen railway station is in Rijen. From there, trains run to Dordrecht via Breda and to Arnhem/Nijmegen via Tilburg. Check the timetable before travelling. For your explorations, the remembrance route, walking trails and green spaces offer different ways to discover places in the municipality.
Discover more destinations: Eindhoven, Valkenswaard, Reusel-De Mierden, Eersel, Sint-Michielsgestel, Best.
Return to the main travel overview: North Brabant.
