Connecting route: 25th anniversary of the municipality of Bladel
The current municipality of Bladel was formed in 1997 from the villages of Bladel, Casteren, Hapert, Hoogeloon and Netersel. In 2022, the municipality will celebrate its 25th anniversary. To mark this occasion, a short walk has been devised for each village, with the theme ‘ Bladel connects’.
For the keen walker, a route has also been devised that links the villages together. You’ll be amazed by the diversity of the landscape. Vast meadows, streams, woods, fens, heathland and charming villages alternate along the way. As you walk, you’ll notice the unique character of each village, and everywhere you’ll find the warmth and openness typical of the Kempen region.
You start the route from junction 5 on the Markt in Bladel. On the Markt, by the flagpoles …
The current municipality of Bladel was formed in 1997 from the villages of Bladel, Casteren, Hapert, Hoogeloon and Netersel. In 2022, the municipality will celebrate its 25th anniversary. To mark this occasion, a short walk has been devised for each village, with the theme ‘ Bladel connects’.
For the keen walker, a route has also been devised that links the villages together. You’ll be amazed by the diversity of the landscape. Vast meadows, streams, woods, fens, heathland and charming villages alternate along the way. As you walk, you’ll notice the unique character of each village, and everywhere you’ll find the warmth and openness typical of the Kempen region.
You start the route from junction 5 on the Markt in Bladel. On the Markt, by the flagpoles in front of the town hall, you’ll find the statue of Zwarte Kaat (leader of the band of robbers of the same name). On the other side of the town hall stands the statue of Karel de Eenvoudige en Dirk I of Holland. In 922, Charles presented Dirk with a document concerning ‘Pladella Villa’, which was situated in Bladel at the time. This is
the earliest known reference to Bladel.
Heading towards Netersel, just past junction 85, you’ll find a memorial dedicated to the fallen Allied soldiers and civilian victims of the Second World War.
On the square at junction 5 in the centre of Netersel stands the famous ‘Buntsteker’. This depicts a man cutting bunt (a type of grass) to weave into baskets and beehives, amongst other things. This used to be a common sight in Netersel .
The route continues through Casteren. You’ll then walk to Hoogeloon through a beautifully varied landscape of meadows and woods. Along the way, you’ll pass one of the largest Bronze Age burial mounds in the Netherlands: the Zwarte Berg.
In the centre of Hoogeloon , you’ll still find a few well-preserved historic monuments, such as the Sint Pancratius Dairy, a simple Protestant church dating from 1810 (built alongside a number of listed houses) and a church tower from 1400, the sole remnant of the church that was demolished in 1926.
On Valensplein (between junctions 40 and 96) stands the statue of Kyrië, the gnome king. According to legend, he lived on the Kabouterberg and helped the farmers of de Kempen to get their heavy work done.
Hapert is the next and final village on the route before you head back to Bladel. On the Markt, near junction 93, you’ll find the statue known as the ‘Haopertse Gaoper’.
On your way back to the centre of Bladel, you’ll cross the Grote Beerze at junction 97. This stream has its source in Lommel, Belgium.
On Sniederslaan, heading towards the end point, you’ll pass the Sint-Petrus-Bandenkerk, built in 1925–1926.
Just before junction 5, on the right-hand side, stands ‘ het Gindrahuis ’, dating from 1895. The painters Joseph Gindra and Victor de Buck lived and worked here. ‘ Het Gindrahuis ’ is known in Bladel as the haunted house. After Joseph Gindra ran into financial difficulties, he sold the property in 1913 to his friend and tenant, Victor de Buck. The Gindra family subsequently rented part of the property. However, de Buck disappeared without trace, after which the property was sold to Gindra, who was able to dispose of de Buck’s possessions. After the Second World War, a gardener discovered human bones. According to local legend in Bladel, Gindra murdered his friend and buried him in the garden. Because of this act, his spirit is said to be unable to rest and is still said to wander through the house.....
Here’s what you’ll see
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Visit Bladel : A Source of Inspiration
Visit Bladel Inspiration Point (Stop 1 – Starting point)
You can find us at Bruis
Markt 6
5531 BA Bladel
Navigate to the starting point
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05
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83
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84
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85
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86
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73
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99
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55
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05
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04
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97
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06
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68
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07
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65
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45
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67
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40
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96
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95
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94
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01
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93
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93
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97
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91
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05
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Visit Bladel : A Source of Inspiration
Visit Bladel Inspiration Point (Stop 2 – End point)
You can find us at Bruis
Markt 6
5531 BA Bladel
Navigate to the destination
- 05
- 83
- 84
- 85
- 86
- 73
- 99
- 55
- 05
- 04
- 97
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- 68
- 07
- 65
- 45
- 67
- 40
- 96
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- 94
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- 05