The Regte Heide is home to traces that reach far back into the past: the burial mounds date from the Bronze Age, around 1750 BC. They were first excavated in 1935 and subsequently reconstructed. At around five mounds, the post circles known from the excavations were restored. Here, you can encounter two layers of history: Bronze Age graves and their later reconstruction.
Heathland and open trails
South of Riel lies the Regte Heide en Riels Laag area. It covers 540 hectares and is designated as a Natura 2000 site. Its landscapes include dry and wet heath, boggy depressions, acidic and slightly buffered meres, and deciduous and coniferous forests. This mix of habitats gives the landscape its distinctive character.
Landgoed Gorp en Roovert offers another perspective on nature. This area of about 1,200 hectares includes old deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests, farmland, heathland and meres. It also encompasses the Roovertse Leij, which still has a pronounced meandering course. The estate’s network of trails can be explored on foot or by bicycle, so you can discover it in two different ways, with no fixed route prescribed.
Churches, a mill and local history
In Riel, the Kerk St. Antonius Abt tells several chapters of local history. Riel had its own parish church from 1519; the present church was built in 1897 in its current style. Inside are a baptismal font dating from 1519 and a bell cast in the same year. The bell’s founder was Jasper Moer from ’s-Hertogenbosch.
The Kerk Sint Jan in Goirle also brings together different periods of construction: it is Goirle’s oldest parish church, and its tower dates from the 15th century. The Neo-Gothic church itself was built in 1896 to a design by Jos Cuypers. A walk through the centre also passes the Jan van Besouw Cultural Centre, with its changing exhibitions, and the local heritage museum. The walk through Riel also includes ’t Zandeind, described as Riel’s oldest hamlet.
Molen de Wilde is a round, stone Dutch windmill with a ground-sailed or belt-mill design, dating from 1898. It is a Rijksmonument, meaning a nationally protected historic monument in the Netherlands. When the flag is flying, visitors are welcome to attend demonstrations and guided tours. Molenpark offers opportunities for a stroll and a visit to the animal pasture.
In 2026, the Stichting Erfgoed Goirle museum will be open from 5 April to 18 October on the first and third Sunday of each month, from 14:00 to 16:30; visits by appointment are also possible. Check the date before your visit. The Stichting also has an extensive collection of publications on local history, monuments, families, associations and special events.
Getting around and things to do
Natuurpoort De Roovertsche Leij is a central information centre recognised by Brabants Landschap, with parking and an extensive network of cycling and walking trails. Natuurpoort is also on the De Lijn bus route between Turnhout and Tilburg. As timetables may change, it is a good idea to check the current connections before travelling. The Toeristisch Informatiepunt at Boekhandel Buitelaar offers walking and cycling routes from Monday to Saturday, along with information about local activities and excursions.
Parking in the municipality of Goirle is free, including in the centre. However, a parking disc zone applies there; check the current parking information on site. For a themed walk, the self-guided GPS Wandeltocht takes you through the border area around Goirle. Participants follow a GPS device, answer questions and solve riddles about the smuggling era, and receive a prize from the smugglers’ chest each time.
At Klim & Avonturenbos, the highlights are challenging courses among the treetops and a free fall from a height of 12 metres. Check the current operating conditions before travelling. Brouwerij Nicolaas, on the Gorp & Roovert estate and woodland, offers brewery tours and beer tastings. Visitors learn more about the brewery, the brewing process and the brewing team; check current dates and availability in advance.
Golf enthusiasts will find the 9-hole course of Golfclub Landgoed Nieuwkerk south of Goirle, on the historic estate of Landgoed Nieuwkerk, which straddles the border. The course is surrounded by forests, grassland and the valley of the Poppelse Ley watercourse. Thermen Goirle offers a different kind of experience, with sauna facilities, a snow cabin, sunbathing lawns, terraces and beauty salons. As the offering may change, it is worth checking the current services before making plans.
Discover more destinations: Goirle, Riel, Dongen, Veghel, Eindhoven, Oosterhout, Breda, Roosendaal.
For the overview of the wider region: North Brabant.
