The story behind the name 'Langstraat
De Langstraat is the name for the region in the heart of North Brabant, between the river Maas and the southern sandy soils. The name has been used since about 1461 and used to occur as "De Langhe Straet."
The area took its shape after the Sint-Elisabethflood of 1421, a great flood that submerged much land. To prevent a recurrence, a dike was built that ran like a long ribbon through the marshy landscape. This dike provided protection and became the basis for new life in the area.
Along the dike, farmers and artisans settled, working the marshy land to form a series of ribbon villages. This elongated pattern of habitation gave the region its name: De Langstraat. In the centuries that followed, the region developed further. In addition to agriculture, leather processing and shoe production developed, making De Langstraat an important center of craft and industry in North Brabant.
From peat to shoes
For centuries, from the 13th to 17th centuries, peat extraction was the main source of income here. Farmers cultivated the land in long strips, the so-called stroke landscape. Due to the regular flooding of the outer polders, the grass was of extremely firm quality and hay farming played an important role in the region until the 19th century.
Thanks to the presence of the golden trinity: cattle, oak forests and running water, a flourishing shoe and leather industry emerged in the 18th century. Manufacturers and tanners turned De Langstraat into the beating heart of Dutch shoe production. Along the banks of the Afwateringskanaal in Waalwijk, the villas of shoe manufacturers, old tanneries and the innovative Schoenenkwartier still tell the story of De Langstraat's thriving shoe industry.
Discover the Schoenenkwartier
Half-sole line
A special connection from the shoe past is the Langstraat railway line, also called the Halve Zolenlijntje, the former railroad line that connected the region with the rest of the Netherlands to transport mainly leather and related articles to and from De Langstraat. The construction of this railroad was financed with proceeds from the Dutch East Indies, proceeds that came from the colonial system and the inequality and exploitation that accompanied it. Today, the route has been transformed into a bicycle and walking trail that literally brings the region's rich industrial past to life.
Walking along the Langstraat Railway
Want to discover more about the rich shoe and leather history of De Langstraat, including the iconic Halve Zolenpad? Then follow the Learning Route Waalwijk!
This wonderful bike route also runs partly along the Halve Zolenpad, taking you past old shoe factories, former tanneries, characteristic workers' cottages and other reminders of the region's artisanal shoemaking past.
Langstraat
A region of contrasts
De Langstraat is much more than a region of crafts and industry; it is an area where cultures have lived side by side and intermingled. You can still see that past when you drive through.
The north used to belong to Holland and was predominantly Calvinist, while the south was part of Brabant and remained Catholic. For a long time, that divide created two distinctly different worlds.
During the French Period, several internal borders within the Kingdom of Holland were adjusted. This also applied to De Langstraat. King Louis Napoleon determined that the enclave of Holland would henceforth officially be part of the Department of Brabant. Around 1810, the entire area was finally incorporated into what is now the province of North Brabant. An important moment for De Langstraat!
To this day, traces of these contrasts can be seen in the architecture, landscape and social life - from daily customs to traditions. This is precisely the charm that makes De Langstraat a unique vacation destination.
If you want to delve further into the region's rich history and its contrasts, don't miss a visit to Museum De Roos in Geertruidenberg . Housed in a beautiful historic building, this museum tells the story of Holland's oldest city and offers a unique insight into the cultural heritage of De Langstraat and its inhabitants.
From industry to recreation
Where once the smell of tanned leather hung in the streets and machines rattled incessantly in the shoe factories, now you hear the gentle hum of cyclists and the laughter of families on their way to a day out.
The shoe industry, once the beating heart of the region, slowly lost ground starting in the mid-20th century. As old factory buildings closed their doors, something new appeared on the outskirts of Kaatsheuvel: a simple sports field among the pine trees, which would eventually grow into one of the most beloved amusement parks in Europe: The Efteling. What began as a small park became the new calling card of De Langstraat.
And it didn't stop at the Efteling. The landscape elsewhere in De Langstraat was also given new uses. Consider Landgoed Steenenburg: what was once known as the colorful domain of theme park Het Land van Ooit is now a place where recreation, nature and experience come together.
Thanks to these developments, De Langstraat today feels like a region on the move. Where once shoes went out into the world, now visitors return from all over to enjoy nature, stories and hospitality.
Discover estate Steenenburg
Recreation
Discover and experience
Today, the region effortlessly combines culture, nature and recreation for young and old. Stroll through the cobblestone streets of fortified Heusden, hike along the Zuidwaterlinie near Geertruidenberg or step into the role of lord or lady of the castle at the historic country estate of Het Witte Kasteel in Loon op Zand.
National Park De Biesbosch and the nearby Kamp Vught National Monument are also a short distance away, making De Langstraat an ideal base of operations
Would you like to discover more about the history of De Langstraat? Then be sure to visit Het Gouverneurshuis in Heusden! This beautiful monument on the Vismarkt is the cultural heart of the fortified town, with a museum full of changing exhibitions on art, crafts and local history. You can also take part in fascinating city walks and exhibitions that really bring the past of Heusden and De Langstraat to life.
Discover the Governor's House
Experience De Langstraat
Whether you choose to take a leisurely stroll or dive into history - De Langstraat offers it all.
De Langstraat is a region you don't just visit, you experience. Between the stories of peat and shoes, between dunes and fortified towns, you feel how past and present go hand in hand here.
The five icons of the area
