The walking tour is largely devoted to the Beerze stream. Strictly speaking, the stream starts in the Baest estate, where the Grote Beerze and Kleine Beerze converge. The stream then flows north of the estate through the Baest / Kattelaars Broek area, past Spoordonk, through the Valley of the Beerze and the Kampina to Lennisheuvel where the Beerze will be called Smalwater. The walking tour goes through the areas of Baest / Kattenbergs Broek, Valley of the Beerze and the southern part of the Kampina.
Distance: 21 km.
Time: 4h30.
Grade: Moderate.
Type: Circular.
Gps Track: Yes.
Route description: Yes.
Wheelchair: Not suitable.
Dog: Allowed.
Height gain: No info.
Trail: 80% unpaved.
Marking: See PDF route description.
Hiking shoes recommended.
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The Beerze.
On the edge of Baest / Kattenbergs Broek the Chapel of the Holy Oak is visited, a place of pilgrimage. The Kattenbergs Broek is a new nature reserve that was laid out at the beginning of this century around the again meandering Beerze, a beautifully varied area with a nice suspension bridge over the stream. The walking tour then returns to Spoordonk to follow the Beerze to the Kampina. There is a 170-hectare flood plain in front of the Kampina that is flooded for about a hundred days a year. The flooding area has since developed into an interesting bird area. In the Kampina the walking tour passes a beautiful fen area with the Winkelsven and through the agricultural enclave Balsvoort. In 2015, one of the foundations of the five farms that once formed the enclave was made visible again in the landscape. Around the buildings were fields, ponds and wooded banks. If you look around you, these landscape elements are still recognizable in this part of the Kampina. Via the Beerze the walking tour goes back to Spoordonk.
Download PDf for route description.
For the first loop of this circular walk, one must take into account some noise pollution from the nearby A58.
POI 1 - Chapel of the Holy Oak.
The Chapel of the Holy Oak is a place of pilgrimage to the west of Oirschot in the valley of the Beerze. The legend was recorded around 1610 by Petrus Viaderaccus. According to the legend a few shepherds found a statue of Mary on the banks of the Beerze 'two centuries before' (ie early 15th century) and placed it in an oak, after which they fell down in worship. Residents of Middelbeers took the statue with them and placed it in their church, but the next morning the statue was back in its original place. The inhabitants of Oirschot now came to worship the statue, and there were already several people among the first visitors who miraculously healed their fevers.
No additional information.
POI 2 - Enclave Balsvoort.
In 2015, one of the foundations of the five farms that once formed the enclave was made visible again in the landscape. Around the buildings were fields, ponds and wooded banks. If you look around you, these landscape elements are still recognizable in this part of the Kampina. There is also a bank that reminds the Schut brothers who were executed during the Second War because of their resistance activities.
No additional information.
POI 3 - The Spoordonk Watermill.
The Spoordonk watermill dates from 1320 and runs entirely on hydropower from the Beerze. It is the westernmost water mill in the Netherlands. The mill is equipped with two water wheels. A water wheel was used as a drive for an oil mill, with which linseed was processed into linseed oil. This water wheel is currently used for generating electricity, green energy in the most environmentally friendly way. The other water wheel still has its original function, namely to process grain into flour by hydropower. The drive is entirely through wooden gears, there are still authentic elements from 1320, while many parts have been replaced over the centuries. If the water level allows it, the mill still grinds plenty of grain in the same way as centuries ago.
De Hollandsche Molen.
www.molens.nl
