A wooden boardwalk more than 250 metres long crosses the Moerven in the Huis ter Heide nature reserve. Alongside the forests, heathland and lakes, this route showcases one of De Moer’s special qualities: nature experiences can be combined with village history and rural life. These different themes can help you choose the focus of your stay—from hiking to exploring the history of the church landscape.
Huis ter Heide: Forests, Heathland and Lakes
Huis ter Heide near De Moer is a varied nature reserve with forests, heathland and lakes. In the southern part, 24 artificial lakes together form a valuable habitat for various amphibians and birds. The lakes are therefore not only a feature of the landscape but also part of a habitat that benefits several groups of animals.
The southern hiking route through Huis ter Heide passes through forests and open fields and alongside extensive lakes. If you want to experience different types of scenery on a hike, you’ll find a combination of wooded and open stretches and bodies of water here.
Hiking and Navigation at Leikeven
The hiking route to Leikeven differs from the southern route in the details described: here, the path surface and viewpoint are key points to note. Most of the route follows a paved road; one section runs along a firm sandy path that can be used by electric mobility scooters. The viewpoint at Leikeven has benches and is suitable for wheelchair and electric mobility scooter users.
When choosing a hike, you can therefore take different priorities into account: the southern route is characterised by its forests, open fields and lakes, while the information about the route at Leikeven provides specific details about a section of path and an equipped viewpoint.
Church and Historic Routes
The Sint-Joachimkerk in De Moer was built in 1902 in the Neo-Gothic style, based on a design by the architect C. F. van Hoof. The church is also significant in cultural and historical terms in connection with the religious and administrative development of Midden-Brabant, particularly the establishment of new Catholic parish villages.
An older route to the church ran along the Molenbaan: before 1894, residents of the surrounding farms and De Moer used this path to reach the church in Loon op Zand, when De Moer did not yet have its own church. The Sint-Joachimkerk was built later, in 1902. This makes it possible to distinguish chronologically between the Molenbaan’s earlier importance and the church’s construction history.
The Kerkeroute also connects places with their church history. The cycle route passes Catholic churches from Loon op Zand towards De Moer, ending at the Neo-Gothic Sint-Joachimkerk. Like the Sint Jan in Kaatsheuvel, it was designed by Cornelis van Hoof. Alongside the historic church path, this cycle route offers a different way to explore regional history through its route and connections to churches.
Farm Life and Accommodation
Boerderij De Annahoeve is in the Brabant village of De Moer, adjacent to the Huis ter Heide nature reserve. The farm gives visitors an authentic taste of rural life in Brabant and offers group tours of its modern dairy farm. The farm shop sells meat from the farm.
Hotel-Restaurant De Zwammenberg has private parking, two car charging stations and an electric bicycle charging station. If these facilities are important for your journey, you can take them into account when making your choice. Together with the hiking trails, church and farm life, De Moer offers a range of themes to shape your stay around.
Discover more destinations: Kaatsheuvel, Loon Op Zand.
Go to the main travel overview: Loon Op Zand.
