Traces of War in The Langstraat: Remembrance by Bike and Foot
Every year on May 5, we take to the streets en masse for Liberation Day. A day filled with music, events and festivals, entirely dedicated to celebrating our freedom. Commemoration is so important because it reminds us of what life was like without freedom. Only when we reflect on that past can we truly understand and appreciate what it means to live in freedom and celebrate it. Did you know that in the De Langstraat region you can still see the scars of World War II? In this blog you can read about these impressive places.
Walking through the years 40-45: discover war traces in the region
De Loonse en Drunense Duinen, a beautiful nature reserve that was used during the war as a strategic place full of ammunition stores and hiding places. As you walk through the forest, you will pass old bunkers in De Loonse en Drunense Duinen and trenches, hidden in nature but still clearly visible. The remnants of bombings in the form of old bomb craters give you a tangible reminder of the violent events that took place here. The former munitions depot is another interesting stop, where the Germans hid their explosives. A special route that takes you past these historical places is the M.A.St. walk, developed by Heemkundekring 'De Ketsheuvel' in cooperation with Natuurmonumenten.
The name M.A.St. refers to Munition Ausgabe Stelle - or a German ammunition issuing site. Once, more than 130 ammunition bunkers, barracks and military facilities such as parking lots and even a sports field were located here on a 300-hectare site. During the Second World War Brabant hiking trail, which starts near the Efteling, you'll walk past traces of the past: from latrines and machine gun nests to craters created when the ammunition was detonated at the end of the war. Nature has since taken over much of it, but the traces of war in this nature reserve remain tangible under your feet.
Heusden: a city full of stories
A walk through Heusden is not only a journey through a historic fortified town, but also a confrontation with the past. The war may have been over for decades, but its traces are still visible here.
The most poignant event in Heusden took place on Nov. 4 and 5, 1944, when the retreating German troops committed a disastrous act. In the basement of Heusden City Hall that night, some 200 civilians took shelter from the violence of war. The German occupiers were aware of this but still decided to blow up the tower of the building. As a result, 134 men, women and children lost their lives. The Town Hall disaster is still considered one of the greatest tragedies of fortified Heusden. A memorial keeps the memory of this disaster alive. Around Liberation Day and around November 5, a walk-in is organized by Bezoek De Langstraat during which, among other things, this Town Hall disaster is remembered.
Would you rather explore the stories of the war by bike? Of course you can. There are several bicycle routes available in the region where you can learn a lot about World War II.
Scottish Highlanders Cycling Routes Heusden and Waalwijk
From May 5, 2025, two new Scottish Highlanders Cycling Routes can be experienced in the municipalities of Heusden and Waalwijk. These routes are part of the international network of Liberation Route Europe and portray the story of the liberation in a special way. They follow the trail of the brave Scottish soldiers of the 51st Highland Division, who played a crucial role in the liberation of this region in November 1944.
The 38 kilometer Scottish Highlanders Cycle Route in Heusden begins and ends at the Loonse and Drunense Dunes National Park and takes you past impressive and important World War II sites. Along the way you will discover personal and military stories via the Liberation Route app. The Scottish Highlanders Cycle Route in Waalwijk leads you past places that remind you of the liberation of the city by Scottish troops. Both routes are flexible to cycle from any point and in both directions. They are a tribute to the Scottish liberators and make history almost tangible, in the landscape where it took place.
The route booklets are available from May 5 at the TIP in Heusden and the TIP in Waalwijk.
WW2 monument route: a journey through time
For those who like a brisk bike ride full of history, there is the WW2 monument route through Waalwijk, Sprang-Capelle and Waspik. Over a distance of 37.3 kilometers you cycle past 22 memorial sites. You will pass places like the Monument for the Fallen in Waalwijk, a tribute to the victims of the war. In Sprang-Capelle you will find the impressive Lancaster Monument, on the spot where a British bomber crashed. And in Waspik you will discover an old bunker that was part of the German defense line. These monuments and memorial sites each tell their own story and make the route extra special.
Bike route Sprang-Capelle
The local history society of Sprang-Capelle has developed a special bicycle route that takes you along 28 locations with traces of the Second World War. You cycle past monuments and places where the war is palpably present - sometimes clearly visible, sometimes hidden behind a special story. Information boards at each location provide a brief explanation with images, and QR codes give you access to more extensive information to read later at home.
This route offers a unique way to experience the past and reflect on the events that shaped the village. From May 1, 2025, the route is available from Heemkundekring Sprang-Capelle, ideal for those who want to discover the history of Sprang-Capelle in an active and respectful way.
Both routes offer a peaceful and informative way to enjoy the outdoors while learning more about the history of the region and the importance of our freedom.
Pick up the trail booklet at any of the Tourist Information Points, and you'll get all the details along the way!
The power of remembrance: why it remains important
We live in freedom, and sometimes that seems obvious. But the stories from World War II show us how fragile that freedom is. By touring the war memorials, hidden stories and tangible memories in De Langstraat, we keep the past alive - for ourselves and for generations to come.
Check our calendar for a list of events in the region.
