Gilze can be explored through a range of interests: Mollebos offers greenery and culture on a small scale, while the church and war memorial tell stories of local history and remembrance. The weekly market, school history and an experience route along the Fietsallee add specific reasons to visit. When choosing a hotel in Gilze, you can first consider which of these aspects matter to you during your stay. The places and activities offer different perspectives—from an individual landmark tree to the regional landscape setting of a cycling route.
Green space and culture in Mollebos
Mollebos is a special green space in the heart of Gilze. There are almost 80 trees in the park; five are Rijksmonumenten (national heritage sites): three horse chestnuts, a lime tree and a beech. It is helpful to distinguish between the two figures when considering the tree population: the approximate total describes the park as a whole, while the five designated trees are individual, particularly notable examples. Mollebos is also a place for small-scale cultural activities. Unlike the church and war memorial, the emphasis here is on the green surroundings, with cultural use as an additional feature on a small scale. If you would like to include both green space and culture in your stay, Mollebos offers both in one place.
Church and remembrance in Gilze
The history of Sint-Petrus’ Bandenkerk can be divided into two distinct periods. After its destruction in 1584, the church was rebuilt by 1617. During the war, German troops blew up the tower in 1944, and it subsequently collapsed onto the nave. The church was then restored and enlarged; it was put into use in its present form in 1952. The Angelusklok, dating from 1615, is also part of the church’s history: it originally hung in the tower of Sint-Petrus’ Bandenkerk. This timeline distinguishes the rebuilding in the early 17th century from the restoration and enlargement following the war damage.
The war memorial in the cemetery in Gilze brings together the names of 88 war victims from Gilze, Rijen, Hulten and Molenschot. Its most recent section was completed in 2025. The four places represented give the memorial a scope that extends beyond Gilze and make it another way to explore the region’s history of remembrance. This sets it apart from the church’s history: the focus here is on the victims named and the places involved.
Weekly market and school history
The weekly market in Gilze takes place on Fridays from 08:00 to 12:30 in Nieuwstraat. If you would like to visit the market, plan to go on Friday morning and check the times before setting out. Its set hours make the market a specific point to plan around, without requiring you to devote your entire stay to a single activity.
As of 1 July 2026, the exhibition “Een duik in de schooltijd van vroeger” included more than 300 class photos; the collection may continue to grow. The exhibition also features a reconstructed historic classroom where visitors can write with a pointed nib and ink. This offers two distinct ways to engage: the photos provide a visual glimpse of school life in the past, while writing with a nib and ink adds a hands-on activity. As exhibition features may change, check before your visit whether this writing activity is still available.
Cycling with a regional connection
The experience route along the Fietsallee takes cyclists past information boards and play activities. The Fietsallee is in the forests near Gilze, Chaam and Alphen, so its landscape setting is regional and not limited to Gilze alone. This helps distinguish the experience route from places in the village: the Fietsallee focuses on a cycling activity and its wider landscape. Information boards and play features are part of the route as described. If you are choosing what to do in Gilze based on your interests, cycling offers another distinct option alongside the park, history and market.
Discover more destinations: Molenschot.
Return to the main travel overview: Gilze En Rijen.
