Etten-Leur: Van Gogh heritage, windmills and nature

Anyone planning a stay in Etten-Leur will find a variety of things to explore: Van Gogh history, museums, windmills and activities on the water. When choosing your travel dates, it is worth checking the visiting conditions for each attraction. Some attractions have specific opening days or are only accessible during events.

Van Gogh history and museums

The Van Gogh Fietsroute Etten-Leur Zuid leads to five Van Gogh monuments in the centre of Etten-Leur. The Van Gogh route also includes the Oude Raadhuis: Vincent van Gogh first registered there as a painter in 1881. The Van Goghwall displays dozens of drawings from his time in Etten. The Van Gogh Experience uses multimedia to explore the period when he decided to become an artist in Etten-Leur.

The Museum Sint Paulushofje occupies the entire rear wing of the Sint Paulushofje. It shows how people lived, worked and made their homes in Van Gogh’s time and afterwards. Guided tours cover the history of Etten-Leur, the hofje and its residents. If you are planning a guided visit, check the booking requirements in advance.

The Trouwkerkje is a national monument dating from 1614 and can be visited during events. Inside is a Jacobus Zeeman organ dating from 1716. The Van Osch Museum has a different focus: visitors can see steam engines and internal combustion engines, which are also demonstrated in action. The museum opens on selected days; check current visiting options before you travel. The collection also includes a large library of old textbooks and documents.

Landmarks and windmill history

The Moeierboom, a broad-leaved lime tree dating from around 1675, stands on the market square in Etten-Leur. In 2020, it was voted Tree of the Year in Brabant and the Netherlands. A statue at the Leurse Haven commemorates Adriaan van Bergen. His men set off from there in his peat ship, which is associated with the historic recapture of Breda.

The Molenroute Etten-Leur passes the Korenmolen De Lelie, the Bisschopsmolen and the Zwartenbergse Molen. Built in 1889, the Zwartenbergse Molen is considered a polder windmill unique to Brabant. Visits are regularly possible on Sundays, approximately between 11 am and 3 pm; times may change. The Korenmolen De Lelie operates as a grain mill at weekends and can be visited then. It has been a municipal monument since 2018; receptions and tours for small groups are available by arrangement. The Bisschopsmolen was built in 1744 for the Bishop of Antwerp, replacing three centuries-old post mills.

Walking trails, nature and water

Het Laarzenpad is a 3.8-kilometre walking trail through Kelsdonk. It crosses bridges and a large wooden platform. As access depends on weather conditions, check local conditions before your visit. There is also a walking trail, Het Molenpad, in a nature area north of Etten-Leur. To the south is a wooded area, which also has the Klompenmuseum in one of its nature areas.

Swimming, stand-up paddleboarding and diving are possible at Westpolderplas. There is also a separate nature area for birds, with a bank swallow nesting wall sheltered by a nature island. The Leursche Vaart is navigable for about five kilometres from the Mark, between Zevenbergen and Zwartenberg, towards Etten-Leur; it has been navigable again since April 2001. Another option is an approximately six-kilometre SUP route from Geerkade to the windmill in Zwartenberg and back. These are two different routes and modes of transport.

Plan your visits

You can also include culinary options in your plans: De Turfvaart offers a high tea with sweet and savoury treats. SUP boards can also be rented there from WANNAsup. As the food offering and rentals may change, check the current options before your visit. Outside Etten-Leur, the De Santspuy wine and asparagus farm offers wine tastings; its farm shop sells freshly picked asparagus and a selection of regional products.

You can reach Van Gogh Etten-Leur by car, bicycle or public transport. Etten-Leur NS railway station is about a ten-minute walk away. If you are travelling by train, check the current timetable.

Discover more destinations: Etten-Leur, Bergen Op Zoom, Boekel, Sint Anthonis, ’S-Hertogenbosch, Heusden, Asten, Oss.

For the main travel overview: North Brabant.