In the heart of the southern Netherlands, the province of North Brabant welcomes visitors with landscapes where nature and art coexist in perfect harmony. Breda, Etten-Leur and Zundert form an ideal triangle for those wishing to explore green itineraries steeped in history and in the spirit of Vincent van Gogh. It is a slow journey, one to experience through gardens, urban parks, nurseries and cycling trails that reveal the deep connection between people and nature.

The journey begins in Breda, an elegant city with a medieval soul and a surprisingly green heart. Once the residence of the Counts and Princes of Orange-Nassau, ancestors of the Dutch royal family, Breda still bears the marks of its illustrious past. The Castle of Breda, surrounded by gardens and canals, was among the first Renaissance residences in the Netherlands and served as a training place for young princes.

Behind it stretches Valkenberg Park, once the Nassau’s private garden and now a peaceful public park with tree-lined avenues, ponds and sculptures reflecting the spire of the Grote Kerk, affectionately known as De Groene Kerk (“the Green Church”) for the copper hue of its roof and its symbolic presence at the city’s heart. Nearby, De Groete Markt, the “Green Market”, is today a lively meeting square with the shady plane trees whose very name evokes Breda’s origins as a marketplace for graines, plants and produce from the Brabant countryside.

Just a short walk away lies the Begijnhof, a beguinage founded in the 13th century: an enclave of serenity frozen in time. Its Herb Garden is a botanical gem, with some three hundred species of medicinal plants carefully labeled in Latin and Dutch. The beguines, independent women of faith, once cared for the sick and prepared herbal remedies here. In October, an exhibition by artist Mandy den Elzen revives this legacy, blending art, science and botany into a living herbarium that bridges past and present.

A short train ride from Breda brings you to Etten-Leur, a small town that marks a turning point in Vincent van Gogh’s life. It was here, in 1881, that he registered as an artist and discovered his vocation amidst the local landscape and its people. From his childhood walks through the fields and woods of Brabant, Vincent developed a deep love of nature that became his greatest source of inspiration, leading him to paint works such as Memory of the Garden at Etten. As he wrote to his brother Theo in 1882, “…if I felt no love for nature and my work, then I would be unhappy”.

The Van Gogh Kerkje, where his father once preached, now hosts the immersive Van Gogh Experience: a multimedia journey of sounds, projections and letters that bring to life the young Vincent’s first artistic vision. Nearby, the Sint Paulushofje Museum offers a glimpse into Brabant life around 1900, showing the world that shaped the artist’s human and creative outlook.

Etten-Leur is part of the Van Gogh National Park, a vast cultural landscape linking ten cycling routes over 400 kilometers. The route from the town center passes monuments, farms and nature reserves that retain the quiet charm of the Brabant countryside, where Vincent first learned to observe rural life and the ever-changing light of his homeland.

Cycling south from Etten-Leur, the scenery unfolds into a patchwork of fields, hedgerows and nurseries. Along the way, De Menmoerhoeve Farm welcomes visitors with its vegetable gardens, butterfly area and farmhouse restaurant, a model of sustainable rural tourism offering a true taste of Brabant life. Further on, the Pannenhof Nature Reserve reveals a landscape of great ecological value, with mixed forests, wet meadows and ponds frequented by herons and wild ducks. Walking and cycling paths weave through oak and birch woods, while observation points and birdwatching shelters invite quiet reflection. It is an ideal stop to appreciate how Brabant’s gentle nature forms an integral part of its cultural identity.

Finally, in Zundert, the birthplace of Vincent van Gogh, art and nature meet at their origins. The Van GoghHuis, built on the site of the former parsonage where he was born, is an intimate museum that tells the story of his early years. In addition to its permanent collection, it hosts temporary exhibitions featuring contemporary artists whose work explores themes of nature, landscape and color, creating a dialogue between Van Gogh’s legacy and modern creativity.

Today Zundert is not only a cradle of art, it is also the beating heart of the Dutch green industry. The town is home to one of Europe’s most important horticultural and nursery districts. The Bomen Fietsroute Zundert, the “Trees Cycling Route,” offers a unique journey through nurseries, tree plantations and agricultural landscapes that reveal the business soul of the region. Just outside town, the modern Treeport serves as a logistics and innovation hub for the nursery sector and hosts the annual Groen Groen Plus fair, an international meeting point for landscape designers, growers and professionals where tradition and innovation converge in the name of sustainability.

Accommodations & Dining

For those planning a visit, the following selection of hotels and restaurants offers refined comfort and an authentic taste of the region’s charm.

Hotels

• In Breda: Intercity Hotel
  A modern and centrally located option offering contemporary comfort and convenience.
• In Zundert: B&B ’t Doktershuys
  A cozy and characterful bed & breakfast set in a beautifully restored historic building.

Restaurants

• In Etten-Leur:
  • Petits Saveurs – Elegant dining with refined seasonal dishes.
  • De Menmoerhoeve – A countryside restaurant known for its warm atmosphere and local flavors.
• In Zundert:
  • Millstreet’s Foodbar – Casual yet creative, offering a relaxed spot for modern cuisine.
  • Lokaal104 – A stylish eatery serving regional specialties with a contemporary twist.

Bike Rental: Van der Veeken Fietsen
Rent a quality bike to explore the area’s scenic routes at your own pace.