Unwind in one of the most beautiful regions of Brabant: De Peel

The gravel crunches beneath my feet as I hear birds chirping in the distance. I settle onto the wooden platform by the Meerbaansblaak pond in De Groote Peel National Park, enjoying the expansive view. Black tree stumps mysteriously emerge from the water, and I see the reflection of cloud formations in the water. Slowly, I begin to understand why Staatsbosbeheer calls Meerbaansblaak ‘the Nightwatch of De Peel.’

De Peel is a raised bog area on the border of North Brabant and Limburg, made up of marshes, expansive heathland, forests, shrubbery, and water ponds, divided into several nature reserves such as De Mariapeel, Deurnsche Peel, and De Groote Peel National Park. It’s one of the richest bird habitats in Western Europe and an ideal place to unwind. We visited De Peel to hike, mountain bike, indulge in local cuisine, cycle, and relax at a lovely bed and breakfast. Here are my tips for unwinding in De Peel.

1. Visit De Groote Peel National Park

Once known for its peat extraction, this 1,400-hectare nature reserve now offers landscapes of marshes, heathland, forests, water, and scrubland. It’s a fantastic spot for hikers and cyclists.

Look out over the Meerbaansblaak pond or search for some of the many birds that inhabit the area, such as the hen harrier and the stonechat. In October, November, and March, you can even spot cranes.

^{Foto: Yves Banza}

^{Foto: Yves Banza}

Hiking in De Peel

The national park offers three different hiking routes. The Meerbaansblaak Route (yellow) is two kilometers long and accessible for strollers and wheelchairs due to its paved path. The 3-kilometer Knuppelbrug Route (red) takes you through marshes and water ponds. For a comprehensive tour of the park, take the 6-kilometer Mussenbaan Route (blue), which covers all the park’s highlights. You can discover all the routes in De Groote Peel National Park here.

2. Mountain biking through the Liesselse Forests

For the more active, mountain biking in the Liesselse Forests is a must, a typical Brabant forest with beautiful riparian vegetation. Between the tall pines, narrow winding forest trails alternate with wide forest paths. We chose a 15-kilometer marked mountain biking route, indicated by wooden posts with a green triangle and two circles beneath it.

^{Foto's: Yves Banza}

We pass the babbling stream, the Oude Aa, and the Galgenberg: an open area in the heart of the Liesselse Forests where, in the past, condemned criminals were hanged. Straight sections alternate with winding, narrow paths—perfect for beginners like us.

Tip: If you don’t have a mountain bike, you can rent one at Natuurpoort de Peel. From there, it’s about seven kilometers to the start of the mountain biking route in the Liesselse Forests. Check out the mountain biking route here.

3. Relax at Glundr!

The recently opened bed and breakfast Glundr, located in Heusden, is just a 10-minute drive from the main entrance of De Groote Peel National Park, making it an ideal base to explore the nature reserve.

^{Foto: Yves Banza}

With only seven rooms, a wellness area, a breakfast café, and the hostess Ivon who takes care of everything, you’ll find total relaxation in this peaceful spot, right in the heart of nature. From the large windows in our room, we look out over the meadows and a flock of sheep. I flop onto the bed, sip my fresh coffee, and watch the golden fields as the sun sets behind the horizon. Pure bliss!

4. Hiking Routes in Deurnsche Peel

Deurnsche Peel is part of the Natura 2000 area, consisting of remnants of what was once an expansive primeval landscape of living raised bog. It’s a beautiful place to hike, and we’re about to do just that. We create our own route by following the junctions 17, 12, 18, 19, 21, 62, 18, and 17. Dense shrubs alternate with tall grass, and wooden bridges cross ditches. Slowly, the vast view shifts to a wooded area.

^{Foto's: Yves Banza}

After 6.5 kilometers, our hike ends in the village of Griendtsveen. We stop at Herberg de Morgenstond, with a view over the Helenavaart, lined with trees. We enjoy a well-deserved craft beer and a delicious lunch. Order a ‘Knapzak’—rye bread with blood sausage and apple, and brown bread with fried bacon and eggs—or a ‘Klootzak’—slices of bread with meatballs in gravy. These are the house specialties.

^{Foto: Yves Banza}

Tip: You can easily plan your own hiking and cycling routes through Brabant using the Routes in Brabant website.

5. Street Art Tour in Eindhoven

We love combining the calm of nature with the buzz of a city. And Eindhoven is the perfect place to do just that. From De Peel, you can reach the center of Eindhoven in just 30 minutes by car.

One fun activity in Eindhoven is a Street Art tour by bike, which you can book through City Tours Eindhoven. We start at Wielercafé Cyklist at the NRE site, immediately stepping into the urban world of industrial interiors, graffiti, and street art.

"Graffiti originated in America," says our guide Maurice as we cycle toward De Berenkuil, the only place in Eindhoven where graffiti is legal. "Artists have a code: you can only spray over someone else's work when you can truly do it better," explains Maurice.

^{Foto: Yves Banza}

We pass through areas like Strijp-S, the city center, and the Philips Stadium. But the working-class neighborhood Woensel-West, with its colorful houses and street art, left the greatest impression on me. As we cycle deeper into the neighborhood, it almost feels like stepping into the medina of Fez. Earth-toned houses, ornate steel doors, and tall, colorful gates greet us.

^{Foto's: Yves Banza}

We finish our weekend with a well-deserved beer at Café Thomas in Eindhoven’s city center. Surrounded by pink walls adorned with detailed murals, it feels like we’re in an exhibition. Relaxed and content, we step into the car and head back home.

Want to discover more special places in Brabant? Check out: ‘The Van Gogh Bike Route: 435 km Through Brabant,’ ‘The Biesbosch: Tips for Every Season,’ and ‘Tip: Hike Among Large Grazers in Brabant’s Primeval Area.’

This trip to De Peel in Brabant was made possible in collaboration with VisitBrabant. Want to unwind in Brabant’s nature? Visit VisitBrabant's website and get inspired.