The Langstraat is a region of old trades and icons like De Loonse en Drunense Duinen, Efteling, fortified Heusden, Schoenenkwartier and fortified Geertruidenberg. You'll find plenty of hiking and biking trails in the beautiful countryside. Whether you want to unwind, expend your energy or immerse yourself in history and culture: it's all possible.
De Langstraat is the name used for centuries to designate the central area in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It originated from a dike built after the St. Elisabeth Flood, from east to west through a swampy landscape located between the Meuse River and the higher sandy grounds. Along this, farmers settled and a ribbon of settlements developed.
For centuries, from the 13th to 17th centuries, peat extraction was the main source of income here. Farmers reclaimed the land in long strips, separated by ditches or hedges, perpendicular to the dike; the so-called stroke landscape. Due to the regular flooding of the outer polders, the grass was of extremely firm quality and until the 19th century hay farming played an important role in the region. With the golden trinity (cattle, forests of oaks and running water) within reach, a flourishing shoe and leather industry developed in De Langstraat in the 18th century.
Since the decline of shoe production, the region was forced to change direction. In 1933, a sports park was built in the village of Kaatsheuvel. This was the basis for the Efteling, which grew into the largest amusement park in the Benelux. Partly due to the growth of the Efteling, De Langstraat is now strongly focused on tourism and recreation and there is a tremendous amount to do and discover.
Discover the past
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Shoes and leather
It is no coincidence that De Langstraat is the cradle of shoemakers and tanners. Cows supply the leather. The Donge and Loint rivers provided clean running water and the oak trees on the barren land provided oak bark. Want to learn more about leather? Then visit the Schoenenkwartier, walk the Wet Blue route or bike the Waalwijk Learning Route.
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Het Witte Kasteel
In Loon op Zand, imagine yourself as a lord or lady over the historic country estate surrounding Het Witte Kasteel, built in 1777 on the remains of an older castle belonging to the Lords of Loon op Zand. The national monument has old defensive walls, a herb, flower and vegetable garden and an orchard. There are guided tours on Sundays (please make reservations). You can also spend the night there!
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Boundary posts
This border between Holland and Brabant from around 1795 runs from Willemstad to Engelen and cuts through the municipalities of Dongen, Waalwijk, Heusden and 's-Hertogenbosch in the eastern Langstraat. Today there are oak posts marking the line. The boundary posts are made of oak, in which the coat of arms of Brabant on one side and the coat of arms of Holland on the other are carved by carving.
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Heemtuin De Meulenwerf
Which plants were used by the physician, the monks, the grocer and the tailor? Rely on your senses. What do you smell? What do you hear? What do you feel? Feast your eyes and learn about the properties of plants this way. And you do this at the very spot where the city farm and kitchen gardens used to be in fortified Heusden. Heemtuin De Meulenwerf, under the rampart, near the river Maas.
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Visitor center Heusden (TIP)
Heusden is renowned as a seventeenth-century fortified town. In many ways, Heusden still resembles (or more accurately, resembles again) the town as the Amsterdam mapmaker Joan Blaeu depicted it on his famous map of 1649. Since 1968 Heusden has been beautifully restored. For this the town received the highest European award in this field, the restoration prize 'Europa Nostra'.
The former town hall of Heusden is now in use as a Visitor Center. Changing exhibitions are set up here. The no less than 35 m2 model of the fortified town forms a permanent part of the collection. With interactive columns you can find more information about the prominent places in the fortress. A film about the history of Heusden is also shown. Tourist Information Point Heusden is located in the visitor center.
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Stelling of Heusden
When Heusden Vesting became a frontier fortress of the Republic of the Netherlands in the late sixteenth century, the Elshoutse Zeedijk became part of the Stelling van Heusden. By flooding the area around Heusden, the locks on the Zeedijk provided defense against the enemy in times of war. Around Heusden is a set of such beautifully restored locks and forts, such as Fort Hedikhuizen.
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The Zuiderwaterlinie
The Zuiderwaterlinie is the oldest, longest and most used of all the Dutch water lines. All the way from Bergen op Zoom to Grave. A unique chain of 11 Brabant fortified towns (including Heusden and Geertruidenberg) and their surrounding countryside (including Waalwijk), connected by the typical Dutch story of defending with water. Where once the soldiers stood at the border, you now find Brabant coziness against the backdrop of a rich history.
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The Governor's House
Dating from 1592, the Governor's House is one of the finest buildings in the fortress. It was once the parsonage of the N.H. Church and later became the official residence of the governor. Now the Governor's House is the place that brings the history of Heusden and its surroundings to life with its own permanent collection and surprising temporary exhibitions. Enjoy a good glass of wine in the museum café or the walled Governor's Garden.
Take a guided tour
Learn more about the past and present of the most beautiful sights in the center of Waalwijk? Or be led along alleys, squares, harbor, beautiful fortifications and many monumental buildings that fortified towns Heusden and Geertruidenberg are rich. Then book a walking tour led by an experienced guide!
More about the history of De Langstraat
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Experience the oldest and longest waterline
April 11, 2024
The Zuiderwaterlinie forms a unique series of historic fortified towns and surrounding areas linked by the authentic story of defending the Netherlands on water. Region De Langstraat is also located with certain areas on this unique line, which you can visit during your stay in De Langstraat. As the oldest, longest and most deployed water line in the Netherlands with areas in the municipalities of Heusden and Waalwijk, it offers a rich historical experience and unëvenerable cultural experience for everyone who visits De Langstraat.
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Route Garden of Brabant
October 25, 2021
That the National Park De Loonse en Drunense Duinen has a rich past is no surprise to most people. For a hundred years the nature reserve has enjoyed the protection of Natuurmonumenten. A lot has happened in those hundred years.
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Route Garden of Brabant
September 14, 2021
Have you ever walked on a former railroad line? You can in the Brabant region of De Langstraat. On the embankment between Raamsdonk and ’s Hertogenbosch lies the kilometer-long Halve Zolenpad. Between Vlijmen and 's-Hertogenbosch the old tracé goes through nature reserve De Moerputten. Via a railroad bridge hundreds of meters long and a wooden deck path you are led through the low moor swamp. A spectacular way to experience the area.
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Back in the past along the Zuiderwaterlinie
June 17, 2021
With its many accommodations, Wandelgemeente van het jaar 2021 Loon op Zand is ideally suited as a base for beautiful walks in the area. A must for hiking lovers through the Brabant countryside is the Zuiderwaterlinie Wandelpad.
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Learning garden of Brabant
April 20, 2020
De Langstraat is the name used for centuries to designate a centrally located area in North Brabant. Peat and hay extraction and shoe and leather industry were central. Today, the area is known as theé leisure region of Brabant.
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History of Heusden
April 19, 2020
Heusden is renowned as a seventeenth century fortified town. In many ways, Heusden still resembles (or more accurately, resembles again) the town as the Amsterdam mapmaker Joan Blaeu depicted it on his famous map of 1649. But the town is much older.
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European award
April 17, 2020
The impoverishment that occurred in the nineteenth century had made Heusden a dilapidated monument town. Especially after the devastation of 1944, the town was badly battered. The municipal government was faced with the task of restoring and growing the town.