Laarbeek Between Canals and Mill History

Canals, mills and nature trails give Laarbeek its many facets. The town lies at the junction of the Zuid-Willemsvaart and Wilhelminakanaal canals. As the “Water Gateway to the Peel,” Laarbeek also offers canals, streams, ponds and bridges. If you are looking for a hotel in Laarbeek, you can shape your travel plans around whether you want to focus on waterscapes and trails, a cycling route, or culture and the history of technology.

Waterscapes and Nature Trails

Since 2018, Blauwe Poort Laarbeek has combined an area for water retention and storage with walking and cycling paths and an educational observation tower. The area can be reached on foot or by bike from Vonderweg-Oost in Beek en Donk; parking is available along the road. Check access and parking information again before your trip.

’t Gulden Land also features a variety of landscapes: it has swamp forests, grasslands, wet soils and dry areas that are home to numerous plant and animal species. The nature reserve between the Kop van Aarle-Rixtel and northern Helmond has a circular route with cycling and walking paths, as well as newly created ponds. Its diverse habitats and trails define the character of the area, without any single viewpoint needing to take center stage.

The estate of Kasteel Eyckenlust offers another way to spend time outdoors. The paths across the 61-hectare grounds are freely accessible, except for the immediate surroundings of the castle. Check access information again before your visit. The oldest surviving part of Kasteel Eyckenlust is the gatehouse, which dates to around 1500.

Castles, Mills and Local History

Kasteel Croy also has a long history: its oldest parts date from the late 15th century. The mills offer another way to discover the region’s cultural heritage. Molen Vogelenzang is a stone grain, oil and hulling mill. It was built after a wooden post mill was blown over in a severe storm in 1817. Vincent van Gogh painted the mill several times. The history of technology and the history of art meet here.

Molen De Leest has a cast-iron shaft dating from around 1830 to 1840, considered one of the oldest cast shafts in the Netherlands. The building of the Klokkengieterij Petit & Fritsen houses Europe’s only wood-fired melting furnace. The Klokkengieterij has officially been in operation since 1660 and is considered the Netherlands’ third-oldest family business.

Exhibitions at Heemhuis Barthold van Heessel change over time and cover religion and devotion, archaeology, occupations and crafts, and everyday life in a Brabant village in the past. The Heemhuis is located in Hoeve ten Coudenberghe, which dates back to the 14th century. A religious site with a history of its own is the Lourdesgrot in Mariahout: it was consecrated on 30 May 1935 and is a replica of a very well-known French grotto. A total of 74 sisters moved into the new Missieklooster Heilig Bloed on 15 July 1903.

Cycling Route, Brewery Tour and Regional Products

For a longer cycling trip, the 44-kilometre “Pluk de Peel | Foodroute Laarbeek - Helmond” route starts at Professor-Dondersweg in Aarle-Rixtel. It provides a clear framework for a cycling excursion; the paths in Blauwe Poort and ’t Gulden Land, by contrast, are ways to explore nature reserves on foot or by bike.

The Bavaria Brewery Tour takes you between the brewing kettles through the brewery’s history, from 1719 to the present day. If you plan to take this tour, check the booking details in advance. In Mariahout, Oijnk is a farm shop where you can learn about pigs and buy related products. Vlees- en Zuivelboerderij De Lage Broekkant also offers the opportunity to sample its products. The options therefore range from a historical tour to insights into agricultural products.

Getting There and Planning Your Trip

Buurtbus route 261 connects Beek en Donk, Mariahout, Lieshout, Aarle-Rixtel and Helmond. If you are planning to travel by bus, check the current Bravo timetable. When choosing your itinerary, you can weigh the places and experiences mentioned according to your interests: nature trails and ponds, a set cycling route, or mills, history and regional products each offer a different focus.

Discover more destinations: Aarle Rixtel, Beek En Donk, Mariahout, Lieshout, Waalre, Moerdijk, Woensdrecht, Sint Anthonis.

For the overview of the wider region: North Brabant.