Drunen offers a range of options for a trip: hiking trails through sand and forest, a distinctive brick windmill, and places whose histories commemorate people and events. When planning, it helps to keep the specific features of each destination in mind. For some trails, the terrain and trail markers are described; for others, the route length, start and finish are specified.
Hiking Trails, Dunes and Water
The Loonse en Drunense Duinen still have 270 hectares of open dunes with drifting sand. One hiking route, Zwarte Berg near Drunen, follows paths through sand hills and forest and is marked with white arrows. Here, the terrain and trail markers provide the main points of reference. The eight-kilometre route through the “Brabant Sahara” is described differently: it begins and ends at Herberg De Drie Linden in Drunen. The two routes therefore differ in which details matter for comparison—for Zwarte Berg, the surroundings and trail markers; for the Brabant Sahara, the length and shared start and finish point as well.
De Roeivijver is another natural attraction. This nature area in Drunen is a recreational lake south of the town and north of the Drongelens Kanaal. As a recreational lake, De Roeivijver offers a different natural setting from the hiking trails described above. If you are planning your trip around particular natural features, you can choose between walks through sand and forest and this recreational area.
Windmill, Churches and Memorial Sites
Hertogin van Brabant is a brick windmill dating from 1836, with a strongly tapered masonry structure. Its base has a diameter of more than ten metres, the largest base diameter of any windmill in the Netherlands. Its construction date, material and shape make it a particularly striking architectural feature in Drunen. If you are interested in architectural forms, you can appreciate both its distinctive taper and a specific point of comparison: the unusually large diameter at the base of the windmill.
Sint-Lambertuskerk is a basilica-like brick building with three aisles. The term describes the layout of the church interior, making its architecture a different point of interest from the windmill: here, the focus is on building type, material and structure. An inscription at Sint-Hubertuskapel on Steegerf commemorates its consecration on 11 September 1994. Cyclists and hikers light candles at the image of Saint Hubertus; the chapel is experienced as a peaceful place for a moment of reflection. The buildings’ histories and their reported use today give these two church sites different points of interest.
The war memorial in Drunen commemorates 69 liberators and residents of Heusden who lost their lives during the Second World War and the Indonesian War of Independence. It consists of six bronze plaques: five large and one small. Its subject and design go hand in hand: the number of people commemorated is matched by a clearly described form of memorial.
The De Voorste Venne cultural centre is another specific cultural destination: its theatre auditorium has 346 seats and can be used for performances, concerts and readings. If you want to attend a particular event, check its date separately; the uses listed here do not establish a current programme.
Events Throughout the Year
Jeugd Vakantie Vreugd Drunen takes place every summer and is a play week for children aged four to twelve. The programme includes games, sports, crafts and participatory activities. Check the dates for each year before planning. A 2025 programme description mentions a large street market with around 200 stalls in the town centre during the Paasfestijn, as well as shops open in the centre. These details may change with each edition, so check the information for the relevant date if you are interested. The events differ in both season and focus: one centres on a summer play week for children, the other on a market in the town centre.
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