A marked hiking trail in Dommeldal, an old village square and churches dating from different centuries reveal different sides of Waalre. The 6.2-kilometre Loondermolenpad runs alongside the Dommel and the Volmolen; in Loon, farmsteads and the village layout tell the story of a long history of settlement. There are also small natural areas and trails for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. You can get to know Waalre through its landscapes, architectural history or routes, depending on your interests.
Explore Dommeldal on foot
The 6.2-kilometre Loondermolenpad runs through Dommeldal and alongside the Volmolen and the Dommel. Blue arrows mark the route, which follows the site of the former Loondermolen near Loonderhoeve. The Volmolen also tells the story of the area: it stood on the former municipal boundary between Waalre and Riethoven; the half located in Waalre historically served as a grain mill. A new double watermill was built at the site of the Volmolen in 1998, generating electricity for 20 households.
The route therefore connects a specific walk through the landscape with traces of earlier uses. Check the latest route information before setting out, as temporary diversions may be in place. Numerous walking, cycling and horse-riding trails also run through and along the municipality. Connected mountain-bike routes extend beyond the municipal boundaries to Limburg and Belgium. In the natural areas, horse riders, cyclists and mountain bikers must stick to the designated trails; check the latest information before your visit.
There is also dedicated infrastructure for recreational cycling: a cycle path was built to make the area more accessible for leisure activities. Two cycle bridges were also built, one between Waalre and Eindhoven and one between Waalre and Veldhoven.
Loon and two distinct Willibrordus churches
The hamlet of Loon is an agricultural settlement that dates back to the 6th century and has been designated a protected villagescape since 1971. The triangular square, planted with oaks, is surrounded mostly by long-gable farmhouses built around 1870. The square and farmhouses form a distinctive architectural centre, whose history extends far beyond the time when most of the buildings were constructed.
The Willibrordus churches are two distinct buildings. The Oude Willibrorduskerkje has stood since the 12th century and was later extended with a Gothic addition and a tower in the characteristic Kempen Gothic style. After the Second World War, it was designated the provincial memorial to Brabant’s fallen. The H. Willibrordus Church at Markt 22, by contrast, was built in 1925 in the Neo-Romanesque style, to a design by architect L.J.P. Kooken. From a cultural and historical perspective, it is considered a distinctive expression of the development of Catholicism in the southern Netherlands and an example of the typological development of the Catholic parish church during the interwar period.
The Waalre Walks offer another perspective on the past: GPS-guided audio tours that bring Waalre’s stories to life on location. At some points, they use augmented reality to depict the former Aalst-Waalre railway station site from the early 19th century and French soldiers from 1800. Check in advance that the app and its content are currently available.
Natural areas and small discoveries
Waalre’s landscape includes forests, small pools and heathland, as well as the Dommel and Tongelreep rivers. The area around Meeuwven includes mixed woodland, heathland and several other small pools. Bog myrtle, a protected plant species, grows along many of the banks. The area around Meeuwven and Achtereinds Laag also has a raised viewpoint overlooking a body of water and a nearby sand martin colony. The area is attractive to various bird and amphibian species.
At Vlindertuin Waalre, different garden features come together: sections of heathland, grassland and woodland sit alongside an ornamental garden designed to attract insects. A pond attracts various species of dragonflies and amphibians. Between 1 April and 1 October, around 20 information boards explain the life of butterflies. Vlindertuin is free to visit from sunrise to sunset; Waalre’s natural areas are also accessible during these hours. As access information may change, check the latest information from IVN and the municipality before your visit.
At seven locations in the Dommeldal De Hogt area, QR information boards cover the nature, history and special features of the area. The information can be played aloud and is available in several languages. The initiative was launched in July 2026; check the latest municipal information about availability before your visit.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Waalre, Boekel, Landerd, Schijndel, Grave, Bergen Op Zoom, Woensdrecht, Gemert-Bakel.
Back to the main travel overview: North Brabant.
