Wernhout combines an early history with historical traces and natural landscapes in the surrounding area. The first documented mention dates back to 1295; De Krochten is located within two kilometres of the village centre. There are also hiking trails with specific lengths, a Maria Labyrinth and creative workshops. The different themes offer a range of starting points for planning your trip.
Early settlement and local history
Wernhout originated as an esdorp along the Aa or Weerijs. The earliest settlement took the form of a triangular square, around which buildings developed. This early village layout is a distinct aspect of its history; the first documented mention dates to 1295. At the time of this first mention, Wernhout was probably a hunting ground or warande.
Later affiliations are also part of the village’s history: during the Eighty Years’ War, Wernhout belonged to Brecht in the Belgian province of Antwerp. William III of Orange acquired Wernhout in 1698 to round out the territory of the barony. These details refer to different periods and contexts, rather than reducing the village’s development to a single historical event.
Church, monument and other traces
The O.L. Vrouw van Altijddurende Bijstand Church at Wernhoutseweg 149, 4884 AT Wernhout, is listed as a municipal monument. The parish church of O.L. Vrouw van Altijddurende Bijstand was consecrated on 16 and 17 September 1927. Its monument status and consecration date provide two specific historical reference points.
The war memorial in Wernhout commemorates seven local residents who lost their lives during acts of war under the occupation. The outlines of the chapel and the old house have been preserved in the courtyard of the former Sint-Vincentius Seminary in Wernhoutsburg. A boundary stone from 1843 is one of the few remaining reminders of Wernhout’s former border post. The former Napoleonsweg can also still be made out in Wernhout’s streetscape.
The history of transport provides another contrast in time: before the A16 opened in 1972, Wernhout was a busy stopping point and transit destination. Together with the early settlement patterns and the traces that remain, this development helps put the village’s history into perspective from several angles.
Natural landscapes and nearby trails
De Krochten is close to the village centre, within a two-kilometre radius. In the De Gooren en Krochten area, three bog-like landscapes alternate with higher, drier areas, coniferous and deciduous forests, open heathland and various streams. This brings together several distinct landscape features.
Hiking trails in the area pass through De Waaijenberg and De Krochten. They are 2.5 and 3 kilometres long, respectively. The two trail lengths can be compared directly without combining them into a single route. For a cycling trip, the Fietsroute langs de Aa of Weerijs runs from Wernhout to Rijsbergen in the south of Noord-Brabant. This offers a different way to plan a visit to the area than the two hiking trails.
Labyrinth, workshops and places to visit
In the Maria Labyrinth, a path made of granite and marble leads for 677 metres to a flower with seven petals in the centre. The return journey is just as long. The outward and return journeys are therefore the same length; the path’s shape and the motif at its centre give this outing its own character.
Orange Lily offers creative workshops in hobbies, crafts and decoration at its workshop space in Wernhout. The room accommodates nine participants; some workshops are limited to eight people. As dates may vary, check the current programme and participant limit for the workshop you are interested in.
The Jochems-Milbou B.V. tree nursery, Wildertstraat 4a, 4881 MC Wernhout, welcomes visitors for an informal visit. Check the visiting arrangements in advance. This makes it easier to find the options that suit your interests, whether historical traces, nature trails, a labyrinth or a workshop.
Discover more destinations: Rijsbergen, Achtmaal, Zundert
Return to the main travel overview: Zundert.
