Herpen offers several clearly distinct themes to help you plan your trip: local history and architecture, cycling, and the natural waterways of Herperduin. If you are looking for a hotel in Herpen, you can first decide whether culture, a cycling route or the landscape should shape your stay. Here, dynamic waterways meet centuries of local history and traces of earlier water management.

Herperduin and its waterways

Herperduin is part of the Maashorst nature area and covers about 400 hectares. Originally, the area was characterized by heathland and drifting sand. From the late 19th century onward, Scots pines were planted there to stabilize the drifting sand and provide timber for mine workings. The planting thus served two purposes: stabilizing the sand and supplying timber for mining.

Ganzenven, also known as Groot Ganzenven, offers a distinctive waterscape. It lies in the middle of the area and changes with periods of rainfall: during dry spells it dries up completely, while in wetter periods it fills up again. Hamelspoel, also known as Putwiel, lies northeast of the village of Herpen. It originated as an old riverbed of the Meuse, is now an elongated body of water, and is part of the Hertogswetering. Together, they show two different kinds of waterscape: a body of water with fluctuating levels and an elongated former riverbed.

Cycling routes and experiences

The Vorstenroute cycling tour is about 40 kilometers long and runs mostly along the cycle junction network. It starts near Schaijkseweg 3, 5373 KL Herpen. The “de Maas als vriend en vijand” Oost cycling route from Herpen starts at this address and runs almost entirely along the junction network. There are different points to consider when choosing between the routes: an approximate length is given for the Vorstenroute, while the Oost route emphasizes the use of the cycle network. Parking is available at Schaijkseweg 3; check local conditions before setting off.

Another route, the Kijkuit cycling route over Herperduin and the Hemelrijkse Waard, starts at Natuurpoort De Kriekeput in the Herperduin nature area. At Speelbos Herperduin, you can climb and scramble around in the middle of the forest. The forest playground includes Docus de Das, a badger-shaped climbing structure that is six meters high, 33 meters long and 23 meters wide. Those interested in cultural history can also find it at the Herperduin observation tower: it is just under 25 meters high, has seven flights of stairs and contains information panels about the cultural history of the area it overlooks.

Local history, church and chapel

Herpen already had a castle in the 12th century and was the main town of the then Land van Herpen. The St. Sebastianuskerk in Herpen is a Rijksmonument, a nationally listed monument, and is considered one of the best-preserved Gothic churches in Brabant. These details offer different ways into the town’s past: its former political significance and a surviving building with a special heritage status.

The chapel of Koolwijk also has a long history. Church accounts from 1524 already mention it as “capella S. Anne in Coelwyck.” The chapel belonged to the parish of Herpen and was the destination of an annual pilgrimage. The Annafeest is also held there, every year on July 26 or the first Sunday thereafter. If you would like to plan your trip around this festival, check the date for the relevant year.

The Erfdijk is part of the history of water management. It was originally an inland dike of the Beerse Overlaat and protected Herpen from flooding. Together with the waterways and religious traditions, it shows that the town’s history is not told through buildings alone: water engineering and annual customs are also part of the story.

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Go to the main travel overview: Oss.