Waalre: Trails, Nature and Village History

In Waalre, the 6.2-kilometre Loondermolenpad trail runs through the Dommeldal and along the Volmolen and the Dommel. The route brings landscape and history together: marked with blue arrows, it follows the site of the former Loondermolen near the Loonderhoeve. Before setting out, it is worth checking the latest route information.

Hiking Trails and Mill History

The history of the Volmolen can also be understood along this route. It stood on the former municipal boundary between Waalre and Riethoven; the Waalre half was once used as a grain mill. A new double watermill was built on the site in 1998, generating electricity for 20 households. A hike here brings together the course of a historic mill site and a later use of that same location.

Numerous hiking, cycling and horse-riding trails run through and along the municipality. Connected mountain biking routes extend beyond the municipal boundaries as far as Limburg and Belgium. In Waalre’s natural areas, horse riders, cyclists and mountain bikers must stay on the routes marked for them. If you would rather explore with a narrated local history, the Waalre Walks offer GPS-guided audio tours. At some locations, augmented reality displays add to the tour: they show the former Aalst-Waalre railway station site from the early 19th century and French soldiers from the year 1800. Check in advance whether the app and its content are available.

Nature Between Heathland, Forest and Water

Waalre’s landscape includes forests, small pools and heathland, as well as the Dommel and Tongelreep rivers. Around Meeuwven, there is a mix of woodland, heathland and other small pools. Bog myrtle, a protected plant species, grows along many of the banks. The area around Meeuwven and Achtereinds Laag also has an elevated viewpoint overlooking a body of water and a nearby sand martin bank. The area is attractive to a range of bird and amphibian species.

Another natural spot is Vlindertuin Waalre. The garden is open to visitors free of charge from sunrise to sunset. It features sections of heathland, grassland and forest, as well as an ornamental garden designed to attract insects; a pond draws various species of dragonflies and amphibians. From 1 April to 1 October, around 20 information boards explain the life of butterflies. Waalre’s natural areas are also accessible from sunrise to sunset. Check the latest visitor information before your trip.

An IVN walking trail marked with blue signs starts at Café De Hut van Mie Pils in the Meeuwven area. The IVN Valkenswaard/Waalre branch has also created marked walking trails in the Oude-Spoorbaun-Trassé area. In the Dommeldal De Hogt area, seven QR information boards describe nature, history and notable features. The information can be read aloud and is available in several languages; check before your visit whether this service is available.

Churches and Protected Village Scenes

Waalre’s architectural history offers a range of points of interest. The H. Willibrordus Church at Markt 22 was built in 1925 in the Neo-Romanesque style, based on a design by architect L.J.P. Kooken. From a cultural and historical perspective, it is considered a distinctive expression of the development of Catholicism in the southern Netherlands and an example of the development of Catholic parish churches between the two world wars.

The Oude Willibrorduskerkje dates back to the 12th century and was later extended with a Gothic addition and a tower in the characteristic Kempen Gothic style. After the Second World War, it was designated a provincial memorial to those from Brabant who had fallen in the war. Buurtschap Loon offers a different historical perspective: it has been designated a protected village scene since 1971. The agricultural settlement already existed in the 6th century. Around the triangular square planted with oaks stand mainly long-gabled farmhouses built around 1870. Comparing the two churches with Loon reveals different facets of the area’s heritage: the history of religious architecture on the one hand, and a settlement pattern that developed over many centuries on the other.

Discover more destinations: Waalre, Helmond, Asten, Veldhoven, Waalwijk, Bernheze, Boxtel, Geertruidenberg.

For the regional travel overview: North Brabant.