The best MTB trails around Oosterplas

Nemerlaer Castle is situated on the edge of the Beerze stream valley, between Oisterwijk and Haaren. The castle is one of the oldest in North Brabant and was mentioned in historical sources as early as the 14th century. The name Nemerlaer supposedly refers to "no one's forest" or "no one's land," indicating that the area was once a free and undeveloped landscape. The original castle originated as a fortified house that served to protect the surrounding land and trade routes. Over the centuries, the building was expanded and modified several times. The current appearance of the castle, with its towers, moat, and surrounding park, is the result of various renovations, primarily in the 16th and 17th centuries. During the Eighty Years' War and subsequent conflicts, the castle was damaged but was repeatedly repaired. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the estate increasingly took on the character of a country estate with a park and avenues. Today, Nemerlaer Castle is a cultural and historical center that regularly hosts exhibitions, lectures, and cultural events. The estate surrounding the castle offers a peaceful walking area with mature trees, avenues, and views of the Beerze valley, bringing history and nature into close proximity.

The Kampina marshes are part of an area that has been used for centuries as fenland, peat bog, and wet heathland. Where damp lowlands, fens, and marshy areas now lie, there used to be a continuous marshland—with peat moss, wet heathland, and willow thickets—that was part of a much larger raised bog and peat bog area. Over time, this type of landscape became rarer due to land reclamation, peat extraction, and agriculture, but part of it has been preserved in the Kampina. These marshes function as a buffer between the Kampina's dry forest and heathland and the surrounding wet stream and fen structures. The wet environment provides shelter for moisture-loving plants, dragonflies, amphibians, and waterfowl—and forms an important ecosystem within the area. Because the ground is often marshy and the water level fluctuates, nature has adapted here: you'll find typical marsh vegetation and transition zones where reeds, scrub, and wet grassland alternate. For hikers, the marshland is one of the most characteristic and authentic parts of the Kampina: you'll see the alternation between wet and dry, between peat, fen, and heathland, and experience the contrast with the surrounding lanes, fields, and dry areas. It demonstrates that the Kampina is not just heathland or forest, but also a historic marshland landscape with a long ecological and cultural history of its own.

Free with the museum card.

Beautiful route along the Iron Man in Vught. Terraces nearby, benches to rest and you can even get into the water. It can be quite busy, especially on days off and with nice weather. Take it easy then!

More information about the ferry: https://veerponten.nl/veren/herpt-bern

A beautiful Brabant castle in the heart of the Kampina nature reserve. Plus a cozy café, perfect for a snack or lunch break.

The Antonius Abtkerk is a late Gothic Roman Catholic church. The oldest part, the tower, dates from the 15th century. A staircase tower was added later. The vault of the tower rests on sculpted corbels. The nave of the church was built after the fire of 1498, when the Gelderland troops destroyed the village. The baptismal chapel was built a little later. The single-nave nave was provided with a transept in 1610. At that time, the existing choir was also enlarged. In 1771, a rococo stucco vault was added above the nave, provided with emblems. A complete restoration of the church took place in 1835. The most important work of art is the tomb of coloured marble for Engelbert II van Immerzeele and his wife Hélène de Montmorency. They died in 1652 and 1649 respectively. The artwork dates from 1650 and is by Artus Quellinus. Although it was originally intended for the St. Paul's Church in Antwerp, it was placed in the church of Bokhoven in 1651. Source: Wikipedia

Who pays the ferryman? This ferry is offered to you free of charge. Please note