Discover Tilburg: textile art, green spaces and water

At the TextielLab in the TextielMuseum, you can watch designers, artists and architects at work on new pieces. In Tilburg, textile design, contemporary art, parks, water and trails appeal to a variety of travel interests. When choosing your hotel, it may therefore make sense to decide first what you want to focus on during your stay: museum visits, time outdoors or activities on the water.

Textile art, contemporary art and a public meeting place

The TextielMuseum brings together design, art, fashion, heritage and innovation centred on textiles. Its collection comprises more than 26,000 objects from the fields of art, design and industrial heritage; as a growing collection, this number may change. At the TextielLab, you can experience textile work as more than just a finished piece: guided tours introduce techniques such as weaving, knitting, laser cutting, embroidery and tufting.

The De Pont Museum offers its own perspective on art: its collection includes works by more than 100 international artists and more than 1,000 pieces. These collection figures may change over time. The LocHal is a different kind of public space, bringing together learning, research, creative work, innovation, exhibitions and presentations. The LocHal is directly behind Tilburg station and can be reached by public transport, car and bicycle.

Museums and outdoor activities

Natuurmuseum Brabant is opposite Tilburg station and the Centraal Station bus station; from there, it is a 200-metre walk to the museum. The exhibition “IJstijd!” takes you back 12,000 years to the last Ice Age. “Expedition Discover” also offers a playful nature game through several museum galleries.

Spoorpark is free to enter during opening hours and is about a five-minute walk from Tilburg station and nearby bus stops. Its public facilities include an urban sports area with a bowl, pump track and bouldering features, a basketball court, chess tables and jeu de boules courts. The water system includes a pond, a water plaza with fountains and a stream where children can play and adults can wade.

At Piushaven, the greenery of Moerenburg meets the water of the Wilhelminakanaal. The area is ideal for walking and cycling; at the harbour, you can hire boats, join sightseeing cruises or book packages that include food and drinks. This means you can enjoy walks and bike rides by the water, as well as activities that take you out on a boat.

Walking and cycling routes by distance

For a walk starting at Abdij Koningshoeven, the Kloosterrondwandeling is a good option: it starts and ends at the abbey and is 11.5 kilometres long. The Van Gogh-NP walking route in Tilburg covers 17.3 kilometres and takes about four hours. You can compare the two walks by their stated distance and, for the second route, its approximate duration. Route details may change, so check them before setting out.

There are also several cycling routes. The F261 fast cycle route connects Tilburg with Loon op Zand, Kaatsheuvel, Waalwijk and the Efteling. The 51-kilometre La Trappe Blue cycling route passes through Tilburg, Hilvarenbeek and Esbeek. At the start, it includes a visit to Abdij Onze Lieve Vrouw van Koningshoeven in Berkel-Enschot, where monks brew La Trappe Trappist beer. Check the latest route details before setting off.

History, festivals and food

Vincent van Gogh is part of Tilburg’s history: in 1866, the young artist received his first drawing lessons in the city from Master Huijsmans. The Tilburgse Kermis lasts ten days each year; dates and programmes vary from year to year. Roze Maandag was first held in 1990 as part of the fair.

In Landschapspark Moerenburg, on the southeastern edge of Tilburg, agriculture and the area’s importance to nature and the landscape shape its character. Stadsbos013 is an extensive natural area on the edge of Tilburg, accessible by bicycle from the city centre. Around 1310, Huize Moerenburg was one of Tilburg’s first stone houses.

Proeflokaal La Trappe welcomes visitors for lunch or dinner on the edge of Tilburg, in a green setting. It uses organic products wherever possible, and its own abbey contributes to the cuisine. At Abdij Onze Lieve Vrouw van Koningshoeven, all La Trappe beers are developed and brewed in collaboration with the Trappists. If you plan to dine at the restaurant, check its opening hours in advance.

Discover more destinations: Tilburg, Berkel, Udenhout, Breda, Baarle-Nassau, Goirle, Best, Waalre

For the overview of the wider region: North Brabant.