Travelling along the trade route between Breda and Maastricht was not without danger. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, merchant travellers were troubled by all sorts of rabble. There were soldiers who snatched the merchandise, even when the papers were neatly in order. Then there was Alphen's Gang: famous and notorious far and wide. And finally, there were the Zwartmakers, who smeared soot, gunpowder or the grease from a frying pan on their faces. This kept them unrecognisable and scared the hell out of their victims.
These Blackmakers in particular were greatly feared by farmers, innkeepers, millers and commercial travellers. After all, they were extremely violent. Once they attacked a farmer with an axe because he did not reveal the hiding place of his money. Moreover, the Zwartmakers used firearms, which made them different from other gangs of robbers of their time. They stole the weapons and ammunition from armies where they served temporarily. So if you set off for Maastricht from Breda with precious merchandise, you knew: I don't want to run into these men.
This varied 52 km route leads you straight for the Chaamse Bossen. It feels like endless greenery. Pause at the charming Ginneken market or get a taste of the past at Café de Hooikar in Gilze. Continue your route through Breda's agricultural hinterland and discover the cosy village of Bavel. Where do the blacksmiths lurk?
Read the full story about the Blackmakers in the leaflet.
The leaflet consists of two cycle routes in a handy pocket size. With each route you will find a map with the cycle junctions, descriptions of the routes and interesting facts in the area.
The route leaflet is available for 2 euros at the info points in the region.
Download the app Sporenzoeker and discover the most beautiful cycling and walking routes. This app can be downloaded for free in the App Store or via Google Play. Look for these routes under the Historical Trade Route collection.
