The Orange-Nassau Path - from Baarle-Nassau to Riel
By Charlotte Michielsen
A busy job, adolescent kids and a full diary.....quality time with girlfriends sometimes really falls by the wayside. I thought this should change. And so a few months ago I suggested going for a walk together. Ideal for catching up. And not unimportantly, healthy too and suitable for our bodies that, as we approach 50, are getting rustier.
So we set off. Not just any stroll. No, the choice has fallen on the Orange Nassau Path: a multi-day walking route, divided into 7 stages of about 20 km. Every month, we walk one and end with a well-earned lunch. We chat, feel the connection and enjoy the beautiful landscape passing by. A win-win for everyone!
Whimsical boundaries
Sometimes life takes an unexpected turn. So it took a while before we could schedule the3rd stage. But a gentle spring breeze and predicted sunshine lured us out again. This time for the 21 km route from Baarle-Nassau to Riel. For those who do not know Baarle: this unique enclave village is world-famous for its land border, which runs criss-cross through the village. As true Baarle residents, however, we are no longer surprised by this, so we leave the jagged borders for what they are and walk out of the cosy centre.
Country walks
Just outside the village, we pass the Saint Salvator chapel with beautiful prayer garden and Lourdes grotto. We strike a Hail Mary for a blessed walk. Blessed is the first part of the walk anything but. For kilometres we plough through muddy dirt tracks, over cart tracks, past farmlands, hamlets and farms. Fair is fair: it is not the prettiest part of this stage. But as we reminisce about last carnival and catch up on the latest gossip, the kilometres fly by. Soon the forests of De Hoevens loom in the distance. We jubilate. Because there we are halfway through and the break point awaits.
The Hoevens estate
No less than 190 ha of vast meadows, woods, lanes, wooded banks and old Flemish barns: De Hoevens is a real gem. Via the back, we enter this centuries-old estate. At the 'penis tree' we briefly frown. And soon understand where this beautiful tree got its name from. See for yourself! We stop at the nature campsite for a sanitary stop and enjoy our well-earned sandwich and cup of coffee.
"No less than 190 ha of vast meadows, woods, lanes, wooded banks and old Flemish barns: De Hoevens is a gem for good reason."
Stork's nest
Via an avenue with large thick beech trees, we walk towards 'De Oude Leij'. This brook has been allowed to meander again since a few years, which gives us a 'wow-feeling'. This is what the landscape here must have looked like centuries ago. We let our imagination run wild, cross the stream and walk into 't Ooievaarsnest: a Brabants Landschap nature reserve. The wet weather of recent months ensures that the name is lived up to this year. Herons, storks and other birds feast on the many amphibians in the stream, which is very high. We are happy with our waterproof shoes!
Regte Heide
From 't Ooievaarsnest we walk to the Regte Heide. A beautiful open heath landscape with prehistoric burial mounds and bird-watching huts, with the skyline of Tilburg in the distance. We know from the TV programme 'Het Verhaal van Nederland' that hunter-gatherers were already moving around here in the Early Bronze Age and settled along the stream crossings. From mid-August, the heath is in bloom here: then this place is even more beautiful.
Riels Laag
We leave the Regte Heide and walk silently towards the end point of this stage. But not before we enjoyed the Riels Laag: a special transition area of heathland with fens to the stream valleys of the Oude- and Poppelsche Leij. A beautiful last piece of nature before we see the pointed church tower of Riel appear. Our motherly hearts beat faster for a moment at the many lambs frolicking around their mothers in the meadows. It gives us a welcome boost for the final kilometres. At Café Kerkzicht, we look back on our adventure over a nice cup of coffee. And we conclude that our heads and hearts have been relieved. On to the next stage!
Fancy going for a walk too?
Charlotte walked stage 3 of The Orange-Nassau Path, a 21-kilometre route from Baarle-Nassau to Riel. The entire path has 8 stages and covers 136 kilometres.
You will find useful descriptions and maps in the route guide of het Oranje-Nassaupad. It is available at the Wandelshop of wandel.nl, at the information points in the region and at Thuis Hapers in Gilze. You follow the hiking nodes via the green-yellow directions on posts and fences.
Staying longer in de Baronie?
Stay overnight and enjoy this beautiful and versatile region even longer. In de Baronie you will find a wide choice of hospitable places to stay for a night or for a longer stay. Will you choose a cosy bed and breakfast, a luxury hotel or do you prefer camping? It's all possible here. Our lodging addresses are equipped with all conveniences, take a look at the overview. Enjoy in De Baronie.
Tips
- Wear waterproof walking shoes
- Download the route on the Sporenzoeker app. A very nice support where the nodes are not always clear.
Note: the access code is on the inside of the walking bundle you can buy.
- Plan ahead together a number of dates for the stages to be walked. That way everyone stays motivated.