Valkenswaard: Culture, Heritage and Nature

Valkenswaard can be explored for travel planning through two distinct themes: cultural history and nature experiences. The Valkerij en Sigarenmakerij Museum focuses on the history of the cigar industry; De Malpie offers a nature-focused experience with opportunities for walking, cycling and canoeing. If you are looking for hotels in Valkenswaard, your interests can help you identify suitable activities for your stay. The offerings differ in theme and distance—from a museum visit and walking route to a canoe trip and a longer cycling route.

Cultural History in Valkenswaard

The Valkerij en Sigarenmakerij Museum is open Wednesday to Saturday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Check the opening hours again before you arrive to make sure they suit your visit. Films, photographs, tools, unusual everyday objects, machines and documents explain the history of the cigar industry. The different materials offer various ways to explore the subject: you can learn about industrial history not only through texts, but also through images and objects.

Another cultural point of interest is Corso Valkenswaard. Dutch corso culture, including Corso Valkenswaard, was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020. Together with the museum, it offers a look at two different aspects of cultural history: the history of the cigar industry and a recognized Dutch tradition to which Corso Valkenswaard belongs.

De Malpie: Landscape and Nature

De Malpie offers several ways to experience the landscape. The Malpiebeemden section of the De Malpie nature area covers 217 hectares. One specific walking option is the 6 km “Rondje Malpie” route. It passes drifting sand, wet and dry heathland, pools and woodland. The route therefore brings together several different landscape features.

Wildlife is also among the nature-related themes described at De Malpie. Different woodpecker species can be seen there, including the green woodpecker and the great spotted woodpecker. There is also a bat cellar inhabited by greater mouse-eared bats and Natterer’s bats. If you want to consider these aspects of nature as well as a route when planning, they offer further specific points of interest in the area.

On Foot, by Bike or on the Water

Canoe and kayak trips on the Dommel pass through the De Malpie nature area. For canoe trips in or near Valkenswaard, it is possible to start in Borkel (8 km) or in Neerpelt, Belgium (15 km); transport to the canoe launch point is available. Check the availability of canoe rentals and transport arrangements in advance. This lets you factor these details into your trip planning without confusing the canoe route with the walking route: canoe trips follow the Dommel, while “Rondje Malpie” is a designated walking route.

A longer cycling option is the 37 km “Molenroute.” It runs through De Malpie and passes four mills: the Dommelsche Watermolen, the Venbergse Watermolen, the Sint Antonius Abt windmill and De Volmolen. Compared with the 6 km “Rondje Malpie,” the Molenroute is considerably longer and connects the nature area with the four mills listed above. For horse-riding tours, the De Groote Heide equestrian junction network provides routes between junctions in Valkenswaard and the surrounding area. Walking, cycling, canoeing and horse riding therefore offer different activity options; the two routes described can also be compared by length.

Travel Planning Connections

Bravo bus routes 317 and 318 provide a fast and frequent connection between Valkenswaard and Eindhoven. Check the current timetable before travelling. Noord-Brabant also has Bravoflex, a flexible on-demand bus service. It travels without a fixed route or timetable to and from stops that are harder to reach. Check the current service conditions before using it. This gives you two different bus services to consider when planning: the connection between Valkenswaard and Eindhoven, and the demand-responsive service for stops that are harder to reach.

When choosing a hotel in Valkenswaard, you can first consider which themes matter to you during your stay: the cigar industry and Corso heritage, De Malpie’s landscapes and wildlife, or activities on the water, on foot, by bike or on horseback. The distances given for the walking and cycling routes provide a direct comparison by length; for canoe trips, the listed launch points and transport arrangements are also relevant.

For the broader travel overview: Valkenswaard.