How the game works
Divide all the cards among the players.
Place one card face up in the middle of the table.
Each player has their own card and, at the same time, looks for the one symbol that is the same on both cards.
Will you be the first to spot it?
Call it out loud and place your card on top of the card in the middle.That new top card counts right away for the next round.
The first person to get rid of all their cards wins!
The theme: De Langstraat
Match! takes place in De Langstraat: a region full of recognizable places, activities, and stories. In the game, you’ll find symbols that reflect both daily life and the region’s unique character. From vacations and leisure to nature and animals, from summer and winter to the streetscape, fortified towns, the rich history of leatherworking, and the amusement park that many people know. Together, these illustrations offer a playful and accessible introduction to everything that defines De Langstraat.
Curious about what each symbol stands for? You can find out below!
Vacation
Backpack | A backpack is a must-have for a day out in nature or exploring the towns of De Langstraat, whether you’re going for a hike or a bike ride.
Camera | Use a camera to capture the varied landscapes of De Langstraat, from sand dunes to historic towns.
Map | Use this to discover routes in De Langstraat. That way, you’ll always know where you are and can easily find your way to the sights.
Caravan | Travel comfortably through the De Langstraat region in this caravan, from nature to fortified towns.
Tent | Camp in a tent surrounded by nature and fully enjoy the region’s tranquility.
Activities
Biking | With its many bike paths and routes through nature and past villages, De Langstraat is a true cyclist’s paradise. You can easily bike from the dunes to historic sites.
Hiking Boots | In addition to the many cycling options, the region also offers fantastic hiking opportunities. Put on your hiking boots and come explore the dunes, or go for a short or long walk through the towns.
Boat | In and around De Langstraat, you can sail on lakes and rivers, such as the Maas, Bergsche Maas , and the Biesbosch. You can dock at the harbors of the fortified towns of Geertruidenberg and Heusden.
Hot Air Balloon | From a hot air balloon, you can see De Langstraat from above. Did you know you can explore our region from above? Book a hot air balloon ride!
Mountain Biking | For active visitors, there are challenging mountain bike trails in De Langstraat.
Nature
Pine Tree | These trees grow abundantly in the forests surrounding the dunes and in the dunes themselves. The Pinus sylvestris is a native pine species. Did you know you can buy a seedling kit for this tree at our TIP locations in Heusden and Geertruidenberg?
Leaf | Our beautiful region is home to many different trees, and therefore many different types of leaves. This is an oak leaf. Oak trees are common in the region.
Heathland | In the summer, the heathland turns purple in various nature reserves, creating an impressive landscape.
Grass | Grasslands provide habitat for animals living in De Langstraat. They make the landscape of De Langstraat open and varied. Did you know we also have a fun route with a grass theme, among others? Fun for the whole family!
Dunes | De Loonse en Drunense Duinen, part of Van Gogh National Park, are a very well-known nature reserve. It’s a vast area of shifting sand dunes that attracts many hikers.
Small animals
Butterfly | The pimpernel blue, a unique butterfly that lives in flower-filled nature areas. A pimpernel is a plant found in the Vlijmens Ven, and this little butterfly loves it there!
Frog | Pond frogs live in quiet pools of water in nature. Especially in the spring, the frogs can get pretty loud—it’s like a frog concert. The males do this to impress the females.
Crested Newt | This is a unique and increasingly rare newt. So we’re thrilled that it can be found in the nature reserves of De Langstraat! It finds plenty of hiding spots among plants and trees, especially in and around the dune areas. It is the largest newt in the Netherlands, growing up to 20 cm long.
Birds of Prey | Birds of prey soar above the fields and forests in search of their prey. They play an important role in nature. Have you seen them flying yet?
Squirrel | Squirrels jump from tree to tree in the forests of De Langstraat. You’ll also see them regularly in residential neighborhoods with lots of greenery. They gather food, like nuts, for the winter because there’s not much growing then. It’s kind of like meal prepping, actually. Pretty smart, right?
Large animals
Sheep | Sheep help keep the grass and heathland areas clear. These little balls of wool can be spotted all over the region: around the fortified towns, in the dunes, and in many other places. They’re the region’s natural lawnmowers.
Scottish Highland Cattle | These fluffy cows sometimes have long horns. They mainly graze in the Huis Ter Heide nature reserve, where you might come face to face with them. Will you go look for them? Be sure to always keep a safe distance. They look really cuddly, but just like almost every other animal, they don’t like it when you get too close. So enjoy watching them maintain our landscape from a distance!
Fox | The fox searches for food in the forests and dune areas of De Langstraat. It is a very shy animal that is hard to spot. It doesn’t like to show itself and usually comes out in the evening.
Deer | Deer live in the forests and nature reserves of our region. Early in the morning or later in the day, you can often spot them in places like the Westelijke Langstraat nature reserve or in the fields near Plantloon in De Loonse en Drunense Duinen. It’s still peaceful and quiet in nature at those times. But as soon as all the hikers and cyclists are out and about, they hide.
Badger | Badgers live underground in burrows—a kind of underground fortress where they keep their families safe. They’re mainly active at night and are found in quiet natural areas.
Leather
Leather | De Langstraat was once known for its leather and shoe industry, where hides were tanned using natural raw materials such as tree bark and water from the surrounding area.
Shoes | Waalwijk became famous for its shoe manufacturing. All kinds of shoes were made there: from sturdy work boots to heels to sneakers. You can learn all about it at the Schoenenkwartier museum.
Train | The train played a major role in transporting materials, leather, and shoes. Via the old railroad line, the Halve Zolen Line, products were eventually distributed throughout the Netherlands.
Oak | Oak trees provided bark that was used in the tanning of leather, an important process in the shoe industry. During the tanning process, a chemical reaction caused the leather to turn blue. If you walk through downtown Waalwijk in the evening, you’ll see blue light projected in various spots. This is part of a special, short themed route in the city center: Wet Blue.
Rails | Products from the shoe industry were transported to other cities via the railroad, the Halve Zolen Line, which was essential to the industry’s growth. A local baker has even named a special cookie after this piece of history.
Amusement Park
Mushroom House | Tiny, fairy-tale-like mushroom houses evoke a world of fantasy. In De Langstraat, there are places where stories and nature come together.
Carousel | A carousel is a ride where visitors spin in a circle on different types of figures: for example, horses, carriages, or elephants.
Roller Coaster | Roller coasters offer thrills and speed. They attract many visitors to amusement parks. Which roller coasters have you been on? And are you brave enough to try loop-the-loops or a free fall?
Little Red Riding Hood | The fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood fits perfectly with the wooded surroundings of De Langstraat. Here, the stories almost seem to come to life among the trees.
Dragon | Dragons are part of exciting stories and fantasy worlds. Have you ever seen the dragon? He lives at the amusement park in Kaatsheuvel, and sometimes he blows steam… how exciting!
On the street
Streetlight | Streetlights illuminate the streets and squares in our villages and cities. Especially in the fortified towns, they contribute to an atmospheric streetscape: there, the streetlights are still made in the old style.
Bench | You can rest and enjoy the surroundings on benches along walking trails or in public squares.
Mailbox | Have you ever seen such a beautiful mailbox? These days, mailboxes look very different. This is what they used to look like. There’s still one in Heusden, but it’s no longer in use. Still, sometimes someone who’s mistaken puts mail in it. Oops!
Directional Signs | Directional signs help hikers, cyclists, and drivers reach their destinations in De Langstraat. In addition to these signs on tall poles, there are also many other signs to be seen: for example, those showing bike junction numbers. These help cyclists easily navigate the region.
Water Pump | In the old days, people used to get water from a water pump. Can you imagine that water didn’t come out of the faucet at home back then, but that you had to take a bucket to the village square to pump water into it? In Geertruidenberg, you can still find a beautiful old water pump like that on the Markt.
Fortified Towns
Cannons | Cannons serve as a reminder of the time when Heusden and Geertruidenberg were important, strategic fortified towns. The cannons were there to defend the towns.
Bridge | What a beautiful bridge! You’ll find this bridge in the harbor of Heusden. It’s a well-known spot in this fortified town where many photos are taken. Tip: from the other side of the harbor, you get a nice view through it. The perfect selfie spot!
Windmill | Windmills can be found throughout the region. The windmills in Heusden Vesting are post mills; they were once used to grind grain into flour. They can still be visited today by appointment.
Stepped Gables | In the fortified towns, you’ll find old houses with typical stepped gables. These houses give the town its distinctive character. Do you ever look up to see all the different kinds of gables there are? You definitely will from now on!
Clock Gable | Another beautiful facade. Houses with clock gables have an elegant shape. They contribute to the unique streetscape of the fortified towns. These days, buildings are hardly ever constructed this way anymore.
Church / tower | The Geertruidskerk towers high above the historic buildings in Geertruidenberg. You can climb the tower for a beautiful view.
Fortification Walls | If you were to look at the fortified town from above, you’d see the fortification walls. The ramparts protected Heusden and Geertruidenberg from attacks. The ramparts in Heusden, in particular, are still very easy to recognize because they have been fully restored according to old maps. Water surrounds the fortified town of Heusden, making it difficult for enemies to reach and allowing it to develop into a strong fortified town.
Summer
Beach Towel | Take this with you to the (city) beach or pool and use it to dry off or lie on while sunbathing. It’s a must-have for a summer day by the water—and there are plenty of bodies of water in De Langstraat.
Swimsuit | The perfect outfit for a visit to one of the lakes or swimming pools in De Langstraat on a warm summer day.
Ice Cream | On hot days, visitors love to enjoy an ice cream at one of the ice cream shops in the region. It’s a delicious way to cool off after a day out in nature or at an amusement park.
Inflatable Crocodile | Fortunately, there are no real crocodiles in this region, but in the summer, this inflatable version can often be spotted at the natural ponds!
Swimming Pool | A swimming pool or natural pond is the perfect place to cool off on summer days. Do you prefer a swimming pool or a natural pond? You can find both in our region!
Winter
Candle | A candle provides warmth and coziness during the cold, dark winter days. Do you prefer a real flame or a safer battery-powered version?
Sled | You can use this to slide down the hills, dunes, and ramparts when there’s snow on the ground. There’s plenty of winter fun every fall in the De Langstraat region!
Ice Skating | When the weather is cold, people do a lot of ice skating—on natural ice and on temporary rinks. Ice skating is a super fun winter activity! When are you going to do it again?
Christmas Lights | In winter, houses and streets are lavishly decorated with these lights to create a festive atmosphere. This brings a cozy winter feel to homes and the outdoors.
Snowman | Kids (and, let’s be honest, adults too) love building snowmen on winter days in De Langstraat. Hopefully there will be plenty of snow again this winter!
