Discover Groenstraat: Hiking, art and nature

In Esbeek, hiking, art and nature take center stage. There are several specific ways to combine these themes in Esbeek: from a walking route featuring sculptures in the landscape to trails with local stories and views. There is also an art cycling route and landscapes where you can observe nature.

Museum and walking trails featuring art

The Andreas Schotel Museum opened in Esbeek in May 2009. Groups can visit the museum by prior arrangement; arrange your visit in advance. The Andreas Schotel walking route starts and ends at the museum, at Dorpsstraat 2 in Esbeek. Along the way, life-size sculptures and easels featuring various images combine the walk with art in nature.

You can choose between 3- and 10-kilometre versions of this route. Another option is the d’n Flaestoren walking route, developed in collaboration with the Heemkunde Esbeek local history group. It features stories about the area along the way, is 7.5 kilometres long in total, and can be shortened to 5 kilometres. At the end, it takes you to the Flaestoren observation tower, from where you can see as far as Belgium. The route lengths give you a practical comparison for planning, while the trails offer different highlights: art in the landscape on the Andreas Schotel route, and local stories and a viewpoint on the d’n Flaestoren route.

Art cycling route and other trails

You can also include art in your cycling tour. The first Kunstfietstocht route is about 24 kilometres long and passes through Esbeek, Landgoed De Utrecht, Baarschot and Diessen before returning to the starting point. The Kunstfietstocht routes pass various works of art; a separate information sheet explains the works along the way. This offers a different way to experience art than the walking trails: it connects several places and works along a longer route.

There are also official, well-marked walking, cycling and horse-riding routes in and around Esbeek, using the junction network. So planning involves more than choosing between the two walking routes described: cycling and horse riding are also route options. In the area around Esbeek, walking and cycling are permitted on the existing paths and roads of Landgoed De Utrecht. You can get various signposted routes from the Hilvarenbeek Infopunt. Check local conditions before travelling.

Landscape and nature observation

Landgoed De Utrecht is located in the area around Esbeek. Its landscape includes mainly coniferous forest; the Flaes and Goor fens, with heathland and an observation tower; the Reusel valley; and the De Broekeling Gagelmoor with the Hoogeindsche Beek. These varied landscape features give the area several different facets, from forest and heathland to a stream valley.

At Natuurbegraafplaats De Utrecht, you can walk across heathland, through a wet carr forest and through various types of deciduous woodland. The peaceful woodland areas offer opportunities to observe birds, amphibians and plants. For anyone interested in observing nature, this trail adds a different focus to the art-themed routes.

A wheelchair-accessible nature trail is easy to reach from Herberg “In den Bockenreyder”; you can also park at the inn. Local conditions may change, so check them before your visit. Walking is possible on the Rovertsche Heide; follow the signs there for local conditions. This lets you weigh up art trails, landscape routes and nature observation for your trip without conflating the different details about route length, route and access.

Discover more destinations: Diessen, Hilvarenbeek.

Go to the main travel overview: Hilvarenbeek.