An island of living raised bog, surrounded by a narrow ring of water: Klein Hasselven in Leenderbos is a pingo ruin with an unusual landscape feature. But nature in Heeze-Leende can also be seen on a larger scale. Strabrechtse Heide covers around 1,850 hectares, of which Staatsbosbeheer manages 1,600 hectares. It includes Beuven, which the organisation describes as the largest fen in the Netherlands.
Heathland and nature areas
Leenderbos has walking and cycling paths, play areas and picnic spots. The woodland is part of the De Groote Heide Nature Border Park. Near Heeze, a green-marked walking route circles De Plaetse and is suitable for wheelchair users. Check the latest accessibility information before travelling.
The nearby Achelse Kluis can also be visited on a walk or bike ride. It lies on the border between Leende and Hamont-Achel. There you’ll find De Groote Heide, a free, interactive visitor and information centre covering the region’s history and nature, as well as abbey beer. As the exhibits and access arrangements may change, check visiting options in advance.
Castle, churches and mills
Kasteel Heeze is one of the most important listed monuments in the Netherlands. The castle is completely surrounded by a moat and lies in a natural landscape near Strabrechtse Heide. Much of its 18th-century interior has survived over the centuries. Part of the residence is open to visitors, including an elaborately decorated 18th-century bathroom, 17th-century tapestries and a secret room. Check the current visiting arrangements before your visit.
In its present form, St. Petrus' Bandenkerk in Leende is a late Gothic cruciform basilica with an enclosed tower; it was founded before 1285. Its organ, housed in a Neo-Gothic case, was built in 1863 by Mechelen organ builder Loret. A guided tour of the church tower is possible; check availability before visiting. Sint Martinuskerk in Heeze was built in 1932 from hand-moulded bricks in the style of 12th-century Early Gothic architecture. Its stained-glass windows depict the twelve apostles and come from the previous church. The church also houses a replica of the old image of Saint Job; candles are lit in front of it every day.
Heeze is also home to the wind-powered Sint Victor grain mill, built in 1852. It is open to the public by appointment. As visiting arrangements may change, check them in advance. In Leende, ’t Brouwershuis tells a different story of how the building was used: opened as a brewery in 1815, it produced beer for more than a century. Today the building is used as a hospitality venue with tourist information; check its current use before visiting.
Village culture and local traditions
Leenderstrijp is classified as a culturally and historically valuable kransakker village. Its centre lies between Strijperstraat and Hoogeindseweg; the farmhouses scattered throughout the village shape the streetscape together. The chapel is also a monument: it was restored in 1973 and 1999 and is recognised as a listed monument.
Every year on the last Sunday in August, the Brabantsedag brings theatre, music and games to the streets of Heeze. Sixteen towering floats parade through the village, accompanied by more than 2,000 participants. In 2013, the festival was added to the Netherlands’ National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Confirm the exact date and programme before travelling.
In Sterksel, the permanent “Prikkels en Tintelingen” art route, just under two kilometres long, offers a different perspective. It runs through the former grounds of Providentia. A 15-metre section of track with an information board also commemorates a former four-kilometre narrow-gauge railway. D’n Os plays an important role in Sterksel’s annual carnival tradition. The village residents designed and made the figure.
A local speciality is Brokmop from Leende: a cube-shaped aniseed biscuit made by local bakers according to a tradition dating back to before the Second World War. There are also various workshops and packages for residents and tourists to enjoy discovering the area for themselves. Examples on offer include pottery making, walks with a forester, gnome trails and cookery classes in a cooking studio. The specific offerings may change.
Walking, cycling and practical information
The poetry-board network links walking routes of 6.5 to 10.3 kilometres with a 28-kilometre cycling route through Heeze, Leende, Leenderstrijp and Sterksel. An IVN cycling route also passes through these four places. The route distances make clear the difference between the listed walking distances and the longer cycling route. Check the latest route files before setting out.
Heeze is accessible by train, with railway lines running towards Weert and Eindhoven. Public transport in Heeze and Leende is operated by the Bravo bus company. Check the latest train and bus timetables before departure. Visitor parking is available in Heeze at Natuurpoort De Plaetse and Herbertusbossen. In Leende, there are three designated locations in the Leenderbos area: on Valkenswaardseweg, Bruggerdijk and Strijperdijk. Follow the signs on site, as parking rules may change.
Discover more destinations: Leende, Sterksel, Heeze, Steenbergen, Asten, Oosterhout, Eersel, Gilze En Rijen.
For the regional travel overview: North Brabant.
