Luyksgestel: Border History, Culture and Forest

When looking for a hotel in Luyksgestel, you can choose where to stay based on the themes that interest you during your visit. In Luyksgestel, you’ll encounter border history and architecture, as well as baking traditions, open-air theatre and forest areas. The Smokkelroute tells the story of smuggling, the Bakkerijmuseum De Grenswachter combines workshops with guided tours, and the De Boscheindroute is a mountain biking route. Consider whether you’d prefer to focus on cultural history, a hands-on baking activity or a trail through forest areas.

Border history along a route and at a monument

The Smokkelroute Luyksgestel crosses the border and a canal towards the Belgian town of Lommel. The route includes Nellie’s smuggling story, which tells of her plans to take butter and cigarettes across the border. Border marker 191, on the route, marks the highest natural point in Noord-Brabant. This brings together a specific border story and a named point in the landscape.

In the centre of Luyksgestel stands the Kraaienpootmonument. It was created by Ad Wouters and Jan van den Dungen and erected in 1985. The monument reminds the people of Luyksgestel and other residents of the border region of smuggling. The route and the monument approach the theme from different perspectives: the route connects it with Nellie’s story and border crossings, while the monument keeps its memory present in the town centre.

Church, mill and open-air theatre

The Sint-Martinuskerk is a modern church built in 1958 to a design by E. Nijsten. Another historic landmark is the De Deen windmill, built in 1839 at the behest of miller J. Pleek, who came from Denmark. The mill also takes its name from him. These building histories offer different perspectives, from modern church architecture to the story of a mill named after the person who commissioned it.

The De Hunnebergen open-air theatre opened in 1930 behind ’t Boscheind and is considered the second-oldest open-air theatre in Noord-Brabant. From May through November, visitors can enjoy music, theatre and events there. As the seasonal programme may change, check what’s on during your stay before visiting.

Baking workshops and guided tours

At the Bakkerijmuseum De Grenswachter, you can make Brabantse Worstenbroodjes, Kruimelvlaai or bread in workshops. The museum also offers guided tours of the adjacent post mill and the informal bakery museum. This gives you two different ways to visit: you can take part in baking or learn about the mill and museum on a guided tour. The museum has its own car park, and a bus stop is 150 metres away.

Compare forest areas and routes

The De Boscheindroute mountain biking route runs roughly west of Luyksgestel through the forest areas of Postelse Heide, Venakkerbosch, Riebos and Stevensbergen. Each of these areas has its own flora and fauna. The route’s approximate location and the four named forest areas give you specific points of reference for its landscape.

When choosing, you can compare the different highlights: the Smokkelroute is linked to Nellie’s smuggling story, the border and canal crossings, and border marker 191. The De Boscheindroute is a mountain biking route through four forest areas, each with its own distinctive flora and fauna. If you’re interested in local history, the monument in the centre and the historic stories of the church and mill offer further points of interest. This makes it easy to choose Luyksgestel based on the specific places that best suit your travel interests.

Discover more destinations: Westerhoven, Bergeijk.

Go to the main travel overview: Bergeijk.