A trench as a sign of peace: On the Oirschotse Heide, a large heathland and shifting-sand area, you’ll find the landscape artwork Loopgraaf voor de Vrede. This unusual contrast offers a first impression of Oirschot, where nature, local history and cultural monuments come together in different ways.
Churches, market history and museums
The municipality of Oirschot has more than 350 archaeological, national and municipal monuments. A look at individual buildings shows just how varied their stories are. The first Sint-Petruskerk was built in 1268 and was the predecessor of today’s Sint-Petrusbasiliek. Its porch is open daily; you can book guided tours of the basilica and tower climbs through Visit Oirschot.
The former market also offers a glimpse into everyday local life: the Oude Raadhuis was built in 1513 with a covered market hall where butter, eggs, poultry and other goods were traded. The Boterkerkje dates from the early 12th century and is considered the region’s oldest monument. Behind the basilica, in the historic centre, Museum de Vier Quartieren is housed in a monumental former canon’s house dating from the late Middle Ages. Its immersive exhibition tells the story of the former life of a farming family from Oirschot through the eyes of Vincent van Gogh. Check whether this exhibition is currently on display before visiting.
Historic architectural styles continue in the surrounding villages. The Oude Kerkje in Middelbeers was built between 1400 and 1450 at the request of the Oirschot Chapter and is considered the best-preserved example of Kempen village Gothic in the region. The church in Oostelbeers was mentioned as early as 1207; its surviving church tower was added between 1300 and 1350. The chapel of the HH Andreas en Antonius van Padua Kerk, by contrast, is part of the tower complex and regained its religious function as a Marian chapel in 2012.
In Westelbeers stands the stone Mariakapel, built in 1637 after a severe plague epidemic in the Beerzen. From the 17th century onwards, annual pilgrimages to Scherpenheuvel in Belgium set out from here; they ended in 2021. This makes it possible to trace both the chapel’s history and the changes over time in a religious tradition in one place.
Explore on foot and by bike
For a circular walk with a clearly stated distance, the Kloosterrondwandeling Oirschot covers 9.8 kilometres around Nazareth Monastery and combines nature with historic buildings. Oirschot is also part of the 330-kilometre Brabants Kloosterpad, a pilgrimage route that brings together nature, history and reflection. The two distances represent different scales: a single circular walk and an extensive pilgrimage route.
De Groene Corridor offers a different focus. This green link runs from Eindhoven city centre via Oirschot’s historic market square to Van Gogh Nationaal Park, providing cyclists with a fast alternative route. Another option is the 44-kilometre Bevrijdingsroute Oirschot, which visits Second World War memorial sites within the municipality; it takes about two hours. Check the latest route details before setting out.
You can enjoy long walks in the area around the Beerze. The green walking route through De Kampina passes through the Dal van de Beerze. Wading birds can be spotted on the floodplain, including great egrets, teal and reed warblers, and occasionally black storks. De Kampina also includes wet heathland with ponds, bog myrtle thickets, meadows, deciduous woodland and purple moor-grass meadows.
With its many walking trails, De Mortelen is another landscape to explore and is freely accessible all year round. The garden and buildings of Landgoed Heerenbeek are different: they are not open to the public. If you’d like to include different routes or ways of getting around in your plans, Natuurpoort De Vrolijke Jager offers walking and cycling routes, a wheelchair-accessible trail and duotandem bike hire.
Mills and regional craft traditions
The mills also tell stories of work and production. The Spoordonkse Watermolen is powered entirely by the waters of the Beerze; one of its waterwheels still grinds grain into flour. De Korenaar windmill is a round, stone smock mill dating from 1857. It still mills traditionally and bakes its own bread from flour ground using traditional methods. Museumbrouwerij Vandeoirsprong adds another perspective on local craftsmanship with 350 years of brewing history and tours about the history of the local brewery.
Oirschot is accessible via the A58 motorway; the Stönner-Meijwaardbrug takes cyclists right into the town centre. You can put together a visit to the cultural monuments, mills and landscapes to suit your interests, without having to combine these very different routes and historic places into a single itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Oirschot, Westelbeers, Oost West En Middelbeers, Veldhoven, Waalwijk, Vught, Helmond, Reusel-De Mierden.
For the broader travel overview: North Brabant.
