Forests, heathland and poetry add different dimensions to walks near Zundert. There are also windmills, museums and Corso Zundert. When planning your stay, you can choose what to explore based on the landscape, history or length of a walking route.

Walks through forests, heathland and history

The Oude Buisse Heide is in the municipality of Zundert, between Achtmaal and Schijf. Trails lead through old forests and past meadows, fields, marshes and farms. The estate’s literary heritage is associated with Henriette Roland Holst: she donated it to Natuurmonumenten in 1945 and wrote most of her poetry collections, biographies and political books there. The Poetry Trail connects this literary legacy with a specific stop along the way: it passes a tea pavilion dating from 1840. There are seven themed walking trails in total on the Oude Buisse Heide.

De Moeren also features a variety of landscapes: forest, heathland, ponds, meadows and fields. In summer, poppy and cornflower fields add to the scenery. The white Rondelenroute there is 2.7 kilometres long. On the Wallsteijn estate, a viewing pavilion offers views over the grounds, avenues and a reflecting pond. At VRC Zundert, visitors can walk past the bird enclosures through a nature education garden; the centre also offers presentations and guided walks.

When comparing walks, consider their length and route characteristics. The Rondelenroute is 2.7 kilometres long, while the Van Gogh Walk is 8 kilometres. The latter leads from the centre of Zundert into the surrounding countryside and partly follows unpaved paths. The Trappist walking route is a self-guided node-to-node walk of about 8 kilometres through the area around the former brewery. At 11 kilometres, the blue Koepelroute is longer; near Zundert, it crosses several estates, each with its own landscape character.

Other nature areas offer different scenery. In the De Reten nature area near Zundert, you can walk through grassland, fields and heathland. Heath cattle graze on the grasslands, and stonechats and partridges nest in the area. De Pannenhoef lies between Etten-Leur, Zundert, Rijsbergen and Sprundel, and is characterised by forest, marshes and flower-rich meadows. A walking route there starts and ends on Panhoefseweg in Klein-Zundert and also passes places in Rijsbergen. Highlights include a boardwalk and a viewpoint at the Bijloop.

Windmills, museums and Corso traditions

The Akkermolen in Zundert is a post mill and grain mill built around 1600. During a visit, you can see the mill’s wooden mechanisms and learn how grain enters the mill and is processed into flour. The mill is open to the public on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. and by appointment; check the opening hours before your visit.

The Boerendag Museum de Karkooi features wagons and carts, a replica of an old farmhouse, and historic household items, tools, equipment and agricultural materials from rural life in the past. The exhibition also includes a replica of an old farmhouse kitchen and an attached stable containing objects from rural life in the past. The museum is open from April to October on the last Sunday of each month from 1 to 5 p.m. Groups can also visit at other times by appointment. Museum de Weeghreyse devotes its permanent exhibition to the history of Zundert and its five church villages, alongside changing exhibitions.

The Vincent van GoghHuis offers another perspective on Zundert: it stands on the site where Vincent van Gogh was born and features an audio play in which Vincent guides visitors through the house. The Corso tradition also shapes the events calendar. The Corso Zundert parade takes place every year on the first Sunday in September; it is described as the world’s largest dahlia parade. Since December 2021, Corsocultuur has been included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

More discoveries and practical information

Small discoveries are also part of the area’s character: at various locations in Zundert, you can buy fresh strawberries from vending machines, to take away or eat on the spot. Cafés in Zundert offer beer tastings featuring a range of draught and bottled beers.

For a circular walk through the rural surroundings of Zundert, the Brabant Monastery Trail leads into the area around the Abbey of Our Lady of Refuge and through green fields, long avenues, marshes and forests. The chapel beside the Abbey of Our Lady of Refuge is open to visitors. Visit Zundert provides walking maps and a tear-off map with tips on sights and activities in the municipality. To get there, bus route 374 connects Breda railway station with Zundert, Rijsbergen and Wernhout. The community bus to Roosendaal passes through the village of Achtmaal.

Discover more destinations: Wernhout, Zundert, Rijsbergen, Achtmaal.

Discover more destinations: ’S-Hertogenbosch, Uden, Alphen-Chaam, Bladel.

Back to the main travel overview: North Brabant.