North Brabant. Closer to unforgettable experiences
Culture and heritage in quirky North Brabant
Brabant’s cities are best experienced through the traces of the past. They tell the story of noblemen and war heroes, about booming industry, tireless innovation and world-famous master painters. It was none other than Vincent van Gogh who found his inspiration in the vast landscape that connects the Brabant cities and where the Van Gogh National Park is now being realised. These stories are there for the taking in cities such as ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Breda, Eindhoven, Tilburg and Heusden.
Cultural ‘s-Hertogenbosch
Art and culture are deep in the DNA of the capital city of Brabant. That is partly thanks to big names such as Hieronymus Bosch and Vincent van Gogh. That comes together in Het Noordbrabants Museum. Here, you can discover the story of Hieronymus Bosch and you get an exceptional view of the city’s history through his work and that of other artists. Van Gogh is an integral part of that. From the museum, it’s a short walk to the Jeroen Bosch garden. This ‘Garden of Earthly Delights’, filled with colourful paintings, is a reference to the word-famous triptych by the Den Bosch painter that currently hangs in the Pardo in Madrid. Just outside the centre, ‘s-Hertogenbosch has transformed an industrial zone into a meeting place. On the Tramkade, the silos and factory halls of a former compound feed factory are now filled with lovely hospitality venues and cultural hot spots, such as the Bossche Brouwers and Work Warenhuis, including Restaurant Van Aken.
Nassau City of Breda
The story of Breda is hidden in courtyards, behind facades and monastery walls. Start at the Stedelijk Museum to get properly acquainted with the city. It is where religious art and alternating exhibitions give you a taster of what to expect. Breda has its title of Nassau City thanks to the royal family that resided here in the 15th and 16th centuries. The traces they left behind can be found in Breda Castle, the Grote Kerk where the First Prince of Orange, among others, was buried and the Begijnhof (courtyard). The story of Breda can literally be read on the street. Blind Walls Gallery transforms grey city walls into colourful works of art, each telling a piece of history. You can enjoy the countryside for hours in the Barony van Breda, including the Mastbos, Markdal and Boswachterij Dorst where you will find one of the best MTB trails in the Netherlands.
Innovative Eindhoven
No matter how well you do or don’t know Eindhoven it continues to surprise. For decades, Philips shaped the development of this city from a poor farming area to prosperous working city and breeding place of technology and innovation. Philips left a trail of industrial heritage behind; one that is definitely worth following. It takes you past the Philips Light Tower for example. Also, along Strijp-S where the former Philips industrial park has since grown into a cultural and culinary hotspot. Strijp-R is less well known. Where radio and TV components used to roll off the production line, you now get to see the studio, hotel and restaurant of Piet Hein Eek: one of the most successful Dutch designers ever. From Eindhoven, the Vincent van Gogh’s footsteps lead you to ‘Van Gogh Village’ in Nuenen. Go by bike over the illuminated Van Gogh-Roosegaarde Cycle Path. Here you can get acquainted with his life and work at the Vincentre Museum, various monuments and vast landscapes and discover the Brabant that inspired his most famous pieces.
Textile City of Tilburg
Tilburg is traditionally the vibrant stronghold of the textile industry. A piece of history that through the industrial heritage still gives the city a unique atmosphere. The former textile factory now houses the TextileMuseum. Here, not only do stories from the past come to life but as a visitor in the TextileLab you can also discover how Tilburg is still a global leader in the field of design and textile. You can also see the artists at work. Another unique piece of repurposed heritage awaits you at the ‘rugged’ Spoorzone, where unique food concepts, street art and cultural hot spots now form the street scene. One of the showpieces is LocHal, originally a locomotive hall and now an impressive and prize-winning library. For an unforgettable experience go to Doloris Meta Maze; the surrealistic maze which ends up at the rooftop bar. You can see they do things that bit differently in Tilburg when you leave the city and walk through the charming Pluishaven to Landschapspark Moerenburg. Follow the signs for a unique walking route through the area, with the eye-catching contours of Huize Moerenburg.
Fortified Town of Heusden
The Zuiderwaterlinie (southern water line) meanders right through Brabant, from Grave to Bergen op Zoom. This historic defence line forms a chain of 11 fortified towns. The gem on the line is Heusden, where the fortified past is still tangible on every corner through historic gates, ramparts and bastions. The centuries-old buildings now house many art studios and unique boutiques. In Heusden, art and culture and the enjoyment of the good life come together. When walking on the square don’t miss the many vistas to the harbour and windmill. Heusden is in a wonderful location in the natural green region that connects the cities of ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Tilburg and Breda. The eye-catcher is the Loon and Drunen Dunes National Park, where numerous hiking and cycle routes show you the way through the vast countryside.