Countryside
Nuenens Broek (Nuenen Wetlands)
The wooded wetlands northwest of Nuenen are certainly worth
paying a visit. Wetlandsare typified by their waterlogged
undergrowth and abundance of alder and willow trees. This is the
case with the Nuenens Broek. The ground under these woods contains
a layer of clay that is impermeable to water. Formerly this would
have been a swamp. Intense agricultural development at the start of
the 20th century meant that this area was needed for the
production of clogs and matches, among other things. From this time
onward the natural area was controlled by people. Poplars were
planted, trees that cannot grow in marshland. The area therefore
had to be drained. Ditches were dug and poplars were planted in the
raised parts between the ditches. Nowadays this area is owned by
the Brabant National Trust. This organisation owns several natural
areas and takes care of maintaining their natural and rural
beauty. The Brabant National Trust has therefore committed
itself to returning a large part of the area to its original state
as marshland. This is producing a beautiful natural area which has
its own stories to tell. Footbaths criss-cross the countryside.
Walking routes are available in the Vincentre.
Visit these gardens in Nuenen
De
Walburg Nursery and Gardens (NL only)
Boord 64
5674 NE Nuenen
tel: +31(0)40 2449682 (Languages spoken: EN/NL)
Check the website for opening times.
Nature walks in and around Nuenen
IVN Nuenen - Association for Natural and Environmental
Education
Five booklets (in Dutch) have been produced by the IVN
about the countryside around Nuenen:
- The Nuenen Linden Tree
- Trees in Nuenen
- The Breugel Meadows and Heerendonk
- The Dommel Trail
- Nature Areas around Nuenen
These books are on sale at the information centre in the
Vincentre
The Nuenen Linden Tree
- the thickest linden (or lime) tree in the country,
circumference of the trunk 6.5 m
- the oldest tree in the Eindhoven region
- one of the last remaining linden trees in Brabant
- planted as a central meeting place for the community
- declaration tree for pronouncing the regulations for the
year
- judicial tree for annual court cases and criminal lawsuits
- layered tree, pruned at two levels
- planted in the last phase of the Eighty Years War
The Breugel Meadows and Heerendonk
- comprises a 6km nature walk
- through a beautiful rural area
- sketches geology, archaeology, history and nature
Trees in Nuenen
- offers a tree walk of 5 km or twice 2½ km
- past 70 types of tree through the centre of Nuenen
- sketches the backgrounds to the trees
- describes the planting, growth and care of the trees
- explains the history of Nuenen
The Dommel Trail
- comprises 4 walking trails of 4, 5, 7 and 13 km
- provides 6 extra walking routes from 9 to 29 km
- describes the Kleine Dommel and the Dommel rivers
- sketches the history of the Dommel Valley
- describes changes to the landscapes
- tells about the ups and downs of local life
- informs you about the water mills and the millers
- points out the nature en route
Natural Areas around Nuenen
- comprises 26 short nature walks
- offers a total of 100 km of walking pleasure
- points out nature reserves and unusual green spaces
- in and around Nuenen
- gives information about flora and fauna
- describes the history and the future of natural areas
for more information: https://www.ivn.nl/afdeling/nuenen-ca
(available in NL only)