Helmond: Industrial Heritage, Architecture and Nature

Helmond offers a range of starting points for planning a trip: local industrial and craft history, distinctive buildings, art in public spaces and diverse natural landscapes. If you are looking for a hotel in Helmond, you can first consider which of these themes you would like to shape your stay. The museums and buildings offer a different focus from the city and art trails or Groot Goor.

Museums between industry and craft

The Industrieel Atrium Helmond presents the history of local industry and manufacturing and craft culture. Its permanent exhibitions cover textiles, metal, printing and graphic arts, as well as energy. This offers a look at different aspects of local work and production.

The Jan Visser Museum is dedicated to the agricultural past up to the advent of mechanisation. On display are machines and tools from traditional trades, including those of butchers, blacksmiths and shoemakers. Historical materials from Helmond’s municipal fire brigade and various industrial fire brigades can also be seen there. Agriculture, crafts and firefighting history thus form distinct themes within the same museum.

Buildings from different eras

Kasteel Helmond was built in 1325 and is the largest moated castle in the Netherlands. The Kubuswoningen, built in Helmond in the 1970s by Dutch architect Piet Blom, reflect a different architectural era. The neo-Gothic St. Lambertus Church was built between 1856 and 1861.

Ketsegangske also tells the story of the city’s built heritage: this picturesque side street off the market square is home to several renovated workers’ houses dating from 1869, which now house traditional shops. The houses, church, castle and Kubuswoningen offer architecture enthusiasts a wide range of points of interest.

City walks and art in public spaces

The four-kilometre City Walk Helmond passes distinctive historical landmarks and contemporary architecture. The three-kilometre street art route through Helmond passes murals whose stories are inspired by the city. It is therefore one kilometre shorter than the City Walk and has a different thematic focus.

The Statue Route Helmond features around 70 statues and five “Open galleries” in the city centre. As public art changes, the route may also evolve over time. On a guided city walk, knowledgeable guides take visitors past some of the city’s notable landmarks.

Nature and regional routes

Groot Goor is a forest and nature reserve east of Mierlo-Hout. It lies between the Eindhovens Kanaal and Helmond’s built-up area. Its landscape includes reed beds, meadows, a large apple orchard, an old and varied wet woodland, and a beech forest to the north. The central area covers 30 hectares and belongs to the city of Helmond.

The Land-van-de-Peel textile route “Made in Brabant” takes you beyond the city. It starts at Helmond Castle, passes major international textile manufacturers and crosses the Zuid-Willemsvaart canal to Aarle-Rixtel. From there, it goes through the ’t Gulden Land nature and water experience area and continues to Gemert-Bakel. The route thus connects its starting point in Helmond with other places and landscapes in the region.

Getting here and finding your way

Helmond has four railway stations: Helmond, Helmond Brouwhuis, Helmond ’t Hout and Helmond Brandevoort. It is worth checking the relevant timetable for your travel dates. VVV Helmond offers personal advice, as well as guided city walks, city maps, walking trails and cycling routes. This can help you weigh up architecture, museums, city routes and natural landscapes when planning your trip.

For the overall travel overview: Helmond.