North Brabant

Cycling through the Brabant countryside

The province of North Brabant can broadly be divided into three main regions, which give cyclists something to go on when choosing a day trip. The Brabant landscape is characterised by woodland and dune areas, urban districts and the more water-rich part south of the great rivers. Cyclists therefore get their money's worth in every respect and can choose from a colourful array of open or sheltered routes, varying in elevation and distance and all the more rewarding for it. It is precisely this variety that can make choosing difficult, which is why this introduction is a handy aid in finding the route that suits you best. Below is a short description of each of these regions.

The river country of the Dommel, the Aa and the Meuse

Although these rivers differ considerably in character, structure and size, a river landscape always adds an extra dimension, as the water carves its own wonderfully wilful, meandering path through the countryside — roughly the area around 's-Hertogenbosch. Bridges and small ferries help cyclists on their way, allowing a seamless link to the other areas of this southern province. The Sint Jan ferry across the Dommel between Kasteren and Liempde is an attraction in its own right. The Meuse is on another scale entirely, both literally and figuratively, and as the border river with the province of Gelderland it always makes a captivating backdrop for walking and cycling trips.

The urban area and the Biesbosch

The urban area and the celebrated Biesbosch are the regions where North Brabant meets the provinces of Zeeland and South Holland, with the Biesbosch as the main visitor attraction. This national park is best explored by boat, but it also has a number of superb cycle routes, which can be continued beautifully in the direction of the Drunen dunes. The contrast between the water of the Biesbosch and the drifting sands around Drunen is immense, and all the more interesting for it. The countless cycle paths offer visitors plenty of options and spots worth seeking out, while cities such as Breda, Tilburg and Bergen op Zoom have a wealth of historic sights within their old town centres.

The Peel and the Kempen

The south-east of the province is marked by quite different flora and fauna: that of the Peel and the Kempen. The Peel has always been a raised bog area with a history reaching back to the late Middle Ages; in recent decades its management has been firmly in the hands of the State Forestry Service (Staatsbosbeheer). The Kempen region stretches from the area around Eindhoven far into Belgium. It is dotted with woods, marshes and heathland and offers highly varied cycle routes. This part of the country is sometimes called the oven of the Netherlands, as the highest temperatures are usually recorded here.