Ulvenhout: Forest, Cycling Routes and Cultural Heritage

Ulvenhout brings together an ancient forest, walking and cycling trails, and traces of its history. When planning your trip, you can choose different priorities: the length of a route, the landscapes along the way, or the history of the area. Route options range from a 1.4-kilometre trail to a 46-kilometre cycling route.

Forest and trails: a range of distances

The Ulvenhoutse Bos is approximately 1,000 years old. The 1.4-kilometre family trail starts in the forest at De Fazant, Sint Annadreef 2. The red route is a signposted 5-kilometre circular trail. It runs along the edge of the built-up area and past pastureland. The two trails therefore differ both in length and in the way they are described: the family trail is shorter, while the red route is marked as a circular trail and passes the specified landscapes. If distance is your main consideration, these details offer a clear guide to choosing a route.

Cycling routes through Ulvenhout and other forests

There are different distances to choose from for a cycling trip. The 11-kilometre Fietsallee runs through the forests of the Ulvenhoutse Voorbos, Chaam and Gilze along a wide, paved cycle path. Another cycling route is 46 kilometres long and passes through Ulvenhout, Breda and Dorst. In Ulvenhout, you can start this route at junction 84, 66 or 36.

At 11 rather than 46 kilometres, the Fietsallee is the shorter of the two cycling options with stated distances. The longer route includes three places and offers several starting points in Ulvenhout. You can therefore base your choice on your preferred distance and route: the Fietsallee passes through several forest areas, while the longer route connects Ulvenhout with Breda and Dorst.

Museum and historical traces

Paulus’ Museum is housed in a Brabant long-gable farmhouse with a crosswing dating from 1903. The building is a municipal monument. The front garden contains a collection of stone posts, including auxiliary posts from the Dutch-Belgian border, municipal posts from Nieuw-Ginneken, and milestones from the road running from Breda via Ginneken to Strijbeek and on to the Belgian border. Together, the posts point to different contexts: the border, the municipality and a historic road connection.

The Paulus van Daesdonck Museum also owns a stoneware pouring jug from Langerwehe, Germany, dating from the late 13th or early 14th century. Its acquisition was reported on 18 March 2024. The farmhouse and the collection offer two different perspectives: on the architectural history of the museum building and on objects connected with places beyond the region.

Ulvenhout’s history in context

The written history of Ulvenhout begins with the Oud Hof, a tenant farm on the Mark River administered by Thorn Abbey. In the 15th century, the Grimhuijsen estate was established west of what is now Dorpsstraat. Another landmark is the church barn, built in 1742: it served as a place of worship for the extensive parish of Ginneken, which at the time also included Ulvenhout.

The Franciscan sisters came to Ulvenhout from Etten in 1845 and founded a girls’ school there in 1846. In 1868, they had Sint-Theresiaklooster built at Dorpsstraat 44–46. The present-day Sint Laurentiuskerk in Ulvenhout was consecrated on 25 July 1904. The reconstructed outline of the “Oude Hof” is also surrounded by a newly created meander loop. These landmarks from different periods range from early farms and an estate to religious institutions and a municipal monument building.

Market at Dorpsplein

A general goods market takes place at Dorpsplein every Thursday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. As business details may change, check the market hours before travelling.

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