When cycling in Brabant Do you perhaps think of many forests with the coolest MTB trails and gravel routes? But did you know that cycling in West Brabant is so vast and peaceful that you sometimes have the feeling that you are in a North Groningen Are you? Or maybe you do get lost in Zeeland as soon as you cycle past the Hollands Diep. What’s also possible is that the fortified towns remind you of South Holland. And what about the Italian influences in the village of Oudenbosch? One thing is for sure: with this route you’ll see a new side of this beautiful region. province.
Text: Nynke Cuperus, photos: Thomas Hester/Nynke Cuperus
A wonderful start
It’s Saturday morning around nine o’clock when we get on our bikes. The weather forecast doesn’t seem too good, but on the other hand it’s a lovely morning. The sun is shining brightly and there’s hardly anyone on the street. After we’ve cycled for barely fifteen kilometers from home, we cycle along a path along the Mark River. On both sides there are flowers and we have a sweeping view of the meadows and the water. It’s such a typical path that you think: ‘Why haven’t I discovered this before?’ So it’s a lovely start to our bike ride!
The battle against the Spaniards in Klundert
We cycle in West Brabant along Zevenbergen and then in the direction of Klundert. This fortified town is part of the Zuiderwaterline. This waterline ran from the Zeelandish Sluis to Nijmegen and was a chain of forts, fortified towns, and the land around them. By using water as a defense measure, the Zuiderwaterline protected our country against attacks by the Spaniards and later by the French and the Belgians. Klundert was located on the border between Holland and Brabant and was therefore in a strategic position. The town has a beautiful town hall, which is a great place for a short break. After Klundert, we are treated to a very adventurous section of the route. We have to go through a fence and cycle across a meadow. We still don’t know if we are allowed to cycle here, but it was fun!
Enjoying the Zeeuws countryside
We continue our bike ride towards Willemstad. This is a beautiful fortress town that is also part of the Zuiderwaterline. But before we get there, we cycle for quite a few kilometers over a dyke along the Hollands Diep. On one side we look out over the Brabant meadows and on the other side at South Holland. Through the water and the views it almost feels as if you are in Zeeland. And then we are in Willemstad! A cozy fortress town that attracts many hikers, water sports enthusiasts and cyclists. It is definitely worth taking some time to visit here. Enjoy a cup of coffee on the terrace for example or explore the charming streets. Unfortunately, we don’t have that much time today. After a short stop at the supermarket, we quickly cycle on.
Fort Sabina
Five kilometers from Willemstad lies Fort Sabina. According to the website, it is ‘the best-kept secret of West Brabant’. The fort and the surrounding nature together cover an area of about 12 hectares. As a result, it is indeed a surprising place and something you think ‘I have to come back here again’. After that, we cycle through an area that reminds us of North Groningen. It is vast, barren and quiet, and place names like Stampersgat and Standdaarbuiten are, in our opinion, quite unique. But you can certainly have a great time here!
‘Minimalistic’ Oudenbosch
Sometimes you come to a place and think: why? Oudenbosch is such a place. It looks like a Brabantian village like so many others, but that’s not the case at all. From the bare and flat landscape of West Brabant, all of a sudden we see a huge dome appear on the horizon. The village is known for the Basilica of St. Agatha and Barbara. Maybe the dome looks familiar to you: it is actually a copy of the famous St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Although it is somewhat smaller, that’s a relative term. With a length of 81 meters, a width of 55 meters, and a height of 63 meters, the basilica is still enormous! Especially in front of the place it stands in. And another fact: Frans Bauer got married here in 2008 with his Mariska.
Small chapel
If you think that a village of 12,000 inhabitants like Oudenbosch is enough for such a large basilica, you are wrong. Even at the Chapel of Saint Louis you feel like you’re in Italy and it’s definitely worth stopping for a sip of water and a photo. You decide, isn’t it beautiful? Cycling in West Brabant always brings new surprises.
After Oudenbosch, our cycling tour is almost over. It’s only about twenty kilometers to Breda. We come across a remarkable road that seems to run through a farmer’s field and we even stop to take a photo of a text on an electrical building.
Cycling in West Brabant: the route
Our route of about 95 kilometers takes you through Prinsenbeek to the northwest of Breda. Along the agricultural fields you cycle towards the fortified town of Klundert. After that, you cycle for several kilometers along the Hollandsch Diep to the fortified town of Willemstad. Here you will find a nice harbor and cozy terraces. Then you cycle towards the southeast. Through villages like Dinteloord, Stampersgat and Standdaarbuiten you get to know Brabant from a different perspective. Through the vastness and emptiness it feels almost as if you are in North Groningen. After that, you continue your bike ride towards Oudenbosch, where a replica of the famous St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City awaits you. After that, it's another twenty kilometers to Breda.
Good to know
- This cycling tour goes through many fields. Therefore, be smart and check the wind conditions in advance.
- There are a few unpaved sections in this route. You can easily bypass them. By clicking ‘underground’ in Komoot, you’ll see where this is.
- At Fort Sabina, just after Willemstad, you will find the brasserie De Chatty Mayor. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to stop here, but it’s a unique location for a drink or a bite to eat.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.