This is
not to be missed!
Het Gulden Land
Gemeinsam mit der Gemeinde Helmond und Waterschap Aa en Maas entwickelt die Gemeinde Laarbeek das Gebiet vom Kop van Aarle-Rixtel über die Bundertjes bis zum Zentrum von Helmond-Noord unter dem Namen: 't Gulden Land. Dieser Name bezieht sich auf den Bach Gulden Aa, der durch das Gebiet fließt. Außerdem stand früher das Gulden Huis in der Mitte des Gebietes. 't Gulden Land soll ein Ort werden, an dem Natur, Wasser, Kulturgeschichte und Erholung Hand in Hand gehen. Das Gebiet wird in den kommenden Jahren weiter ausgebaut, aber schon jetzt kann man hier wunderbar spazieren gehen.
More information about ‘t Gulden land
Landgoed Croy
Croy estate is a beautiful green area around Croy Castle covering a whopping 254 hectares. The layout consists of a well-preserved infrastructure of medieval origin formed by a double rectangular moat with canals all around. Meadows lie between the inner and outer moat; the inner moat on the north and west sides was filled in in the 20th century. Originally, the castle was accessed from the east side through the gatehouse, but in c.1790, the driveway was moved northwards, creating axis. This avenue (planted with young brown beech) projected perpendicular to the entrance in the north facade is flanked by old oak woods; in the woods, a footpath lined with conifers (Douglas); the east side is enclosed by a beech hedge. The castle island is laid out with a partially hedged rectangular kitchen garden to the east of the castle; forecourt with cobblestone paving; in front of the farm a row of lime trees. Well-preserved relationship between the estate and its surroundings with fields, woodland and oak avenues.
Sights on Croy estate
Nature reserve De Biezen
This fascinating nature reserve has seen all sorts of developments in recent years. Weirs have been built, culverts raised and ditches filled in. By leaving dead wood, they are trying to obtain a rich insect world here. There is poplar plantation, dry oak woodland and trouser woodland. The poplar plantation is being transformed into an area with ash and alder. There are also sparse and flowery grasslands. The nature reserve is inhospitable and humid.
Hiking & biking in de Biezen
De Groene Long
You will encounter water features, unusual trees, bridges and benches through the Green Lung. There are signs everywhere to make you nature-wise. The round trip is - in dry times - passable for wheelchairs. In wet times, it is possible for buggies or prams. Through the Green Lung, you can also have fun bird-watching. A bird nature trail has been created here. Apart from birds, you can also enjoy the beautiful trees and plants. And, of course, the fascinating insect world.
Hiking & Cycling in de Groene Long
Mariahouts Bos en Ven
The Mariahout Woods, also known as Lieshoutse Bossen or Lieshoutse Heide, is an elongated Dutch forest area of 158 ha located immediately north of Mariahout. The forest, owned by the municipality of Laarbeek, is a young heathland clearing and consists mainly of plantations of Scots pine, although other tree species, such as beech, can also be found. In the southwest of the area lies the Torreven (sometimes also called Torrenven or Torenven). This is an elongated fen that was in danger of silting up and was cleaned up in 1992.
The terrain, surrounded by heathland remnants, is now managed in such a way that the forest edge is pushed back, which counteracts the silting up of the land by giving the wind more play on the water surface. Patches are also raked off here and there and the site is grazed by sheep. South of the Mariahout Woods is the Heieindse Loop. The area connects to the Vresselse Bos in the west, to the woods of Olen and Mosbulten in the southwest, and to the woods Lijnt and Het Geregt in the east. To the north of the area is an extensive agricultural clearing. To the southeast, a small wetland, the Rietven, connects to the Mariahout Woods. Today, this is a wetland area that includes birch and summer oaks. There are several hiking trails in this area.
De Blauwe Poort
Water storage Blauwe Poort in Beek en Donk. In the countryside between Beek and Donk and Boerdonk lies Blauwe Poort, an innovative water storage area. It looks like a painting. In the middle of the green area along the N279, opposite the Bemmer industrial estate, there has recently been a real gate leading to the stairs of the newly installed watchtower from which visitors can overlook the entire area. The water storage area is designed so that flowery grassland develops well and meadow birds and the ‘big mud creeper’ (protected fish species) feel at home. You can spot the meadow birds from the Blue Gate.
Sightseeing in the Blauwe Poort
Kasteel Eyckenlust
The castle lies on the Aa river. The paths on the 61 ha estate are freely accessible, only the immediate surroundings of the castle are not. The estate consists partly of forest (mainly poplars) and a few farms. The core of the layout is formed by the spacious enclosed pentagonal castle island, accessible via the gatehouse; between the gate and the main building is a short lane planted with approx. 200-year-old lime trees ending in a forecourt. From the Gemertseweg a second access lane ran parallel to the erratic river Aa; parts of this have been preserved.
Due to the normalisation of the Aa (1941), both avenues no longer connect well. Southeast of the (main) entrance lane is a remnant of the original vegetable garden and orchard, of which only a row of pollarded pear trees parallel to the driveway is a reminder (otherwise pasture). In the immediate vicinity of the house are a few solitary trees (walnut, brown beech, swamp cypress, sycamore). To the north of the house is an orchard with mainly half-stem pear trees.
Sightseeing at Kasteel Eyckenlust
Ruweeuwsels
The Ruweeuwsels formed the southwestern boundary of the domain of Lieshout in the Middle Ages. By eeuwsel was generally understood a low-lying, somewhat swampy area, overgrown with brushwood, thorn bushes and here and there grass of poor quality. In 1760, the eeuwsel was made suitable for forestry. For this purpose, the entire area was levelled, after which ditches were dug, between which rows of trees were planted.
The current Ruweeuwsels therefore first date from 1760 and are not an original piece of Brabant nature, as is sometimes assumed. In 1918, the municipality of Lieshout bought several adjacent plots of land, giving the Ruweeuwsels their current size. Timber production had been continued by the various owners, until the Ruweeuwsels came into the possession of the Brabants Landschap Foundation in 1968 and the emphasis shifted entirely to the scenic value of the Ruweeuwsels.
Walking & cycling through the Ruweeuwsels
Nature garden De Bimd
Behind and around the IVN building on Beekseweg 3 in Aarle-Rixtel has been a nature garden since the end of 1980. A garden full of nature, adventure and discovery spots! Over the years, this garden has expanded to a total area of about 5000 m², of which about 2500 m² is freely accessible. The enclosed area consists of a pond with puddle-wash situation, wooded bank with, among other things, domesticated plants, plant borders, pollard willows, insect wall, herb circle, bird breeding ground, barefoot path, small berry boxes, terrace and a butterfly meadow with food forest under construction. The open area, consists of an old poplar forest containing an insect wall, pond, bee hive, pollard willows, butterfly garden, Tiny Forest, an orchard with old fruit varieties and much more. Furthermore, a nature learning path has been laid out that is part of the diversions, ‘ De Aarlese Beemden’ where again some pools can be visited.
The starting point is to show biodiversity as many Dutch wild plants and shrubs and trees as possible in the garden. Signs indicate the species of most of them. Guided tours by an experienced guide are available on request.
Walk through Natuurtuin de Bimd