Discover the Natural Beauty of Land van de Peel: Your Ultimate Weekend Getaway in North Brabant

Nestled in the southeastern region of the Netherlands lies Land van de Peel, which offers the perfect blend of outdoor adventure and relaxation for an active weekend getaway. The diverse area, known for its lush forests, serene heathlands, and charming villages, invites you to explore the region through hiking and biking. And after a whole day of outdoor activities, there is a perfect accommodation to rewind! All of this makes Land van de Peel the ideal destination for those seeking both adventure and relaxation.

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For your information, all these pictures were taken in September 2024.

Some information about Land van de Peel

Land van de Peel is located southeast of the province of North Brabant, between Eindhoven and the Limburg border. It consists of six different Brabant municipalities, each with its own unique character. The region is characterized by a national park and has a Natura-2000 status, which makes it the perfect location for cyclists, hikers, and nature lovers.

How to get to Land van de Peel?

The Netherlands is located in the northwestern of Europe, which borders Germany and Belgium. The United Kingdom is a sea border. The country is quite easy to visit because it’s pretty central in Europe and has a heavily visited capital.

Land van de Peel itself is located in the south of the Netherlands and borders Belgium pretty closely. So, there are many ways to reach this region!

1 | With the plane

As the airport of the Netherlands, better known as Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, is one of the most visited airports in Europe, you can travel from almost all parts of the world to this country. But Amsterdam isn’t a part of Nothern Brabant, so you still need to take another mode of transportation.

It would be better to arrive at Eindhoven Airport, which is part of North Brabant. This airport has around 80 destinations, so a lot of European countries fly to this airport. Afterward, it takes around 45 minutes to reach the city of Helmond by train or 30 minutes by car.

2 | With public transportation

The train system is very well handled and is the most enjoyable to travel to the Netherlands! No matter the destination in the country, you will be there in no time!

I once travelled from Belgium to the Netherlands by train and it was such an easy, enjoyable train ride. You can also travel from Germany, but these times can take a bit longer, depending on where you come from.

3 | By car

You can also come to the Netherlands by car, which I did for this trip. This way you can bring your own bikes instead of renting them. On this trip, parking wasn’t an issue and that’s why I would recommend coming with the car for this weekend getaway.

How to get around Land van de Peel?

You can travel around the region by bike or with public transportation. As the Netherlands is well-known around the world for being a bike country, taking a bike is perfect to incorporate into your trip. The cycle paths are well-maintained and are signposted by bicycle junctions (better known as ‘fietsknooppunten’ in Dutch).

Where to stay in Land van de Peel?

The perfect place to stay in the region is Wonder Woods, which is in the middle of nature and is a perfect addition to this relaxing weekend getaway. It’s also the starting point of a big hike and lies close to other attractions. The accommodation had everything you need, from an outside kitchen to a sauna and an outside bath. Wonder Woods really helps with recharging your batteries as it invites you to be offline and just relax.

Land van de Peel Itinerary

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Land van de Peel itinerary: Day 1

1 | Arriving in Aarle-Rixtel

We arrived early in the morning in Aarle-Rixtel to embark on a stunning hike. The starting point is a former monastery, now ‘de Brabantse Kluis’, made in 1848, but became quickly too small for the sisters. This led to extensions of the monastery to how we know it today.

This hike is one of the many monastery hikes in North Brabant, where you’ll pass by many monasteries and churches. The hike is a loop of 13 kilometers and takes around 3 hours to complete, with the necessary picture stops. Click below for the whole route!

2 | Have a delicious lunch at the Brabantse Kluis

After the beautiful morning hike, it’s time for lunch. And where better than the starting and ending place of said hike? Herberg de Brabantse Kluis is next to the monastery and you can eat between cows and missionary Sisters, which makes this a really unique location. Not only is there a restaurant, but also a hotel, a farm, and a local shop all in one!

Just have a delicious lunch and wander afterward through the stables to pet some cows and calves. Or take a look at the Sister garden, where you’ll come across the Maria cave. In other words, it’s a unique eating experience you just don’t want to miss.

3 | Discover the city center of Helmond

What a surprise Helmond was! It’s not the first city that comes to mind when considering visiting North Brabant, but it should be. The city itself has so many things to discover. A good parking spot is at the Cacaofabriek, which you will find when returning to the car.

A fun and creative way to do this is by following the Street Art Route. It’s a 3-kilometer city walk, which takes you along the most interesting sites of the city and passes some impressive murals at the same time. Because of the stories of these murals, you’ll learn some more about the history of Helmond. Click below to find the route and the different murals you’ll pass by.

A stunning sight you’ll pass by while embarking on the Street Art Route is the Castle of Helmond. It’s famous for being the largest moated castle in the Netherlands. Not only that makes the castle worth a visit, but also the interesting exposition inside.

You’ll start in the basement of the castle and make your way up. Here, you’ll learn more about the lord of the castle and the way they lived, but also how the castle transformed from a closed medieval fortress to a stately castle residence to a town hall and finally museum.

The castle is open every day, except Monday, from 10 AM till 5 PM. A ticket for an adult costs €12 and it’s possible to book online.

Another great thing is finding the cube houses in the middle of the city. Everyone knows them from Rotterdam, but what many don’t know is that Helmond was the first to have them. In the 70s, architect Piet Blom made these iconic cube houses to create a new kind of living.

Normally, these cube houses were accompanied by the theater ”t Speelhuis’, but this was destroyed by a fire. Now it’s located in a renovated church, which is on the Street Art Route.

While wandering around Helmond, you just can’t miss the Sint-Lambertus Church. It’s a stunning sight to visit from the inside, which is totally free.

4 | Take a coffee break from exploring the city center at Juuds Foederer

After all the sightseeing of Helmond, it’s time for a coffee or a refreshing drink at Juuds Foederer. This is right next to the Sint-Lambertus Church. While entering the coffee shop, you will be immersed in a creative world as you can shop for art supplies as well.

5 | Take a quick look at the Cacaofabriek

After returning to your car, make sure to have a quick peek inside the Cacaofabriek. This is an old cacao and chocolate factory between 1894 and 1932. But know it’s a cozy brasserie and a concert and cinema hall. And to no one’s surprise, it’s also possible to taste the chocolate that is sold there by the chocolatier.

6 | Check in at Wonder Woods and relax at the sauna

Only 15 minutes by car is Wonder Woods, where you can check in and relax before going for dinner. There were electric bikes ready for us at Wonder Woods from ‘Lucas Fietsverhuur’. These will be used to go to dinner, but it’s also possible to go in the car.

7 | End the day with dinner at Bij Guus

Now it’s time for dinner after such a full day of exploring parts of Land van de Peel. It’s a 21-minute bike ride from Wonder Woods to Someren, but it goes so fast forward with the electric bicycles. And the surroundings are stunning so you’ll explore some of the Stabrechtse Heath before coming to Someren.

Bij Guus, you’ll get immersed in a unique experience of personal attention, coziness, and delicious dishes. We were really spoiled, not only with the food but with the personal touch.

Follow knooppunten to the next location: 20 – 95 – 96 – 40 – 41 – 42 (6.8 kilometers)

Land van de Peel itinerary: Day 2

8 | Explore the region in the early morning

Good morning from the cozy cabin of Wonder Woods! As we were up pretty early, we enjoyed a small morning hike around the region, afterward rewarded with a sauna and an outside bath. It’s the perfect way to start your day!

For breakfast, we opted for the neighboring cafe called Van Moorsel and it was so delicious. It was healthy and gave us enough energy for our next activity!

9 | Stretch your legs for a 10-km hike with the Beuvenroute

After a big and healthy breakfast, it’s time to explore the surroundings of the overnight accommodation as this is the starting point of the 5 or 10-kilometer hike. We did the 10-kilometer and it’s much more recommended as you’ll pass by more diversity of the heath.

It’s the largest fen in the Netherlands and is known for having its exceptional bird life and special vegetation. The heath was also in full bloom when we visited at the beginning of September. The region is also known for the Scottish Highlanders, as they are used, in addition to sheep, to graze the nature reserves. Find more about the hike below.

10 | Switch hiking to biking and stop at De Soete Inval for lunch

After returning to Wonder Woods, it’s time for a bike ride around the region. But not before having lunch, which will be at ‘De Soete Inval‘ in Someren. It’s the starting point of the bike ride, so it’s the perfect location to have some lunch. There is also a playground for kids or a mini Adventure Golf. Plenty of things to do for young and old!

Follow knooppunten to the next location: 20 – 95 – 85 – 94 – 97 – 31 (5.1 kilometers)

11 | Go on a varied cycle route around Land van de Peel

The last activity for this active and relaxing weekend is a 40-kilometer bike ride along local farms with craft stores, where you can buy local products like eggs, vegetables, and fruits. The Foodroute Asten-Someren is a fun way to see the region and introduces you to regional products at the same time.

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Travel blogger

Hello, I’m Ellen and welcome to this blog! I’m in love with exploring the world and hopefully I get to inspire you with these blog posts and pictures to feel the same. You will find detailed itineraries, hidden gems, tips and so much more!

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