Hoogeloon: Roman Traces and Historic Places

Hoogeloon brings together archaeological evidence, church architecture, memorial sites, and routes through the Beerze landscape. This gives the village several distinct themes to explore during a stay: you can view Roman traces, compare different periods of religious architecture, or choose a route based on its nature or history theme. The specific details range from a bronze find to historic buildings and marked trails.

Roman Traces and Archaeological Sites

Ten bronze axes were found in Hoogeloon while a stream bed was being excavated. The Roman villa had underfloor heating and bathing facilities; these features offer a concrete insight into its structural amenities. Archaeological finds from Hoogeloon’s Roman past are considered unique to the Kempen region. Another archaeological site is the Zwarte Berg, also called Smousenberg: it is one of the largest and highest burial mounds in Belgium and the Netherlands. Hoogeloon’s archaeological heritage thus includes individual finds, Roman building features, and a burial mound, each representing a different aspect of archaeology.

Church Architecture and Memorial Sites

The Sint Pancratiuskerk was built in 1924 and designed by Hubert van Groenendael. The freestanding church tower in Hoogeloon dates from around 1400 and is the only surviving part of the Gothic church, which was demolished in 1926. The tower contains a tithe bell from 1435, cast by Jan Zeeltman. These dates point to different details: the church’s design, the older tower, and the 15th-century bell.

The memorial sites recall different aspects of wartime. The Herdenkingszuil Hoogeloon is a steel column topped with a sword. Four bronze plaques bear the names of two Dutch, one British, and four American service members who fell fighting the occupying forces. The Mariakapel contains two stained-glass windows commemorating Dutch soldiers Jan Balduk and Jan Goossens. Both fell fighting the occupying forces after the German invasion in May 1940. Visitors can light a candle in the chapel; access to the interior may change, so check before your visit.

The memorial “De Luisterkei” commemorates the local resistance, which hid several American pilots underground during the final days of the war. A German bunker can still be seen at the memorial site. While the Herdenkingszuil records the names and nationalities of those who fell, “De Luisterkei” focuses on the story of the local resistance.

Routes Through the Landscape

The routes also differ in theme and design. The Ommetje Hoogeloon circular route follows the course of the Kleine Beerze; this stream is part of the Grote Beerze valley. The Romeinse-grafheuvel walking route follows a particular theme and is signposted from junction to junction with red and yellow-green markers. Games and nature are at the heart of the Kabouterkoning Kyrië Adventure Trail: at activity stations, children can enjoy games and activities about Kabouter Kyrië and nature. The trail is about 2.5 km long. You can choose between a circular route along a stream, a marked themed route, and an adventure trail for children with activity stations.

Discover more destinations: Netersel, Hapert, Bladel.

Return to the broader travel overview: Bladel.