Beek en Donk can be explored in a variety of ways: nature trails on foot, a longer cycling route focused on water, and guided walks to historic sites. When planning, both the themes and the stated distances and formats matter. The Vogelnatuurpad Groene Long has a shorter version; the Gidswandeling Beek en Donk comprises two separate routes, one for Beek and one for Donk. Kasteel Eyckenlust adds a historic building and an estate to the picture. You can consider these offerings as separate elements of your stay, rather than combining them into a single route.
On foot: nature trails of different lengths
The 4.6 km “Wandelen door de Blauwe Poort” route starts in Beek en Donk at the intersection with Middenweg. Another option is the Vogelnatuurpad Groene Long: the route is 4 km long, or 2.5 km on the shorter version, and follows partly paved paths. It passes through the Beek en Donkse Groene Long, by bodies of water, distinctive trees, bridges and benches. Signs along the way provide information about nature. The trail was created for birdwatching and to help visitors understand birdlife; you can also experience trees, plants and insects.
At 7.3 km, the “Wandeling in Beek en Donk” route is longer than the two walks described above. It passes through meadows and reed beds, alongside old trees, and follows the Goorloop. The distances make it easy to compare the options without specifying a walking time: at the Groene Long, you can choose between two distances, while the other two walks are each described as having a fixed length.
By bike and along the water
The Waterpoortroute offers a 30 or 39 km cycling route through Laarbeek and Helmond. The places it passes through in Laarbeek include Aarle-Rixtel, Beek en Donk and Lieshout. Along the route are numerous waterways, wetlands, ponds, canals and ditches. This distinguishes the Waterpoortroute from the walking trails in both its length and its broader geographical route; those trails either start in Beek en Donk or pass through the Groene Long.
There are two water refill points and an e-bike charging station along the Waterpoortroute. It can also be walked; follow the Waterpoortroute signs. The Blauwe Poort offers a distinctive water-related activity: a special water bicycle lets you pump water from the storage basin into the watercourse. The cycling route and this activity thus offer different ways to engage with the water landscape.
Cultural heritage and guided walks
Kasteel Eyckenlust is located on the Aa. Its oldest surviving part is the gatehouse, which dates from around 1500. The 61-hectare estate includes woodland, mostly poplar, as well as several farms. The gatehouse and estate offer different insights into the historic building and its surroundings.
For a guided look at historic sites, Heemkundekring De Lange Vonder has arranged two walks: one for the village of Beek and one for Donk. Each of the two Gidswandeling Beek en Donk routes takes around 1.5 to 2 hours and starts at the Heemkamer at Parklaan 5 in Beek en Donk. The Gidswandeling is available as a guided group walk for 8 to 30 people. Its approximate duration and shared starting point distinguish it from the nature trails, whose descriptions focus mainly on distance, route and path surface.
Discover more destinations: Mariahout, Aarle Rixtel, Lieshout.
Go to the regional travel overview: Laarbeek.
