Those choosing Haaren as a travel destination can divide their stay between local history and trails through the landscape. The cultural side ranges from a medieval church remnant and a neo-Gothic church to a memorial site for events of the Second World War. There are also hiking trails, a cycling tour into the rural surroundings, and guided tours of a garden and orchard. This makes it possible to tailor your stay to your preferred focus, rather than trying to cram every place and activity into a single route.

Churches, History, and Memorial Sites

The Oude Toren is the surviving part of St. Lambertus Church, dating from 1472. By contrast, Haaren’s Roman Catholic Sint-Lambertus Church was built in neo-Gothic style between 1912 and 1914, based on a design by architect W. Th. van Aalst. These dates point to two distinct historical references in Haaren’s church architecture: a surviving part of a 15th-century church and a building from the early 20th century.

The visiting conditions at the Oude Toren are clear: the tower is closed to the public. The grounds around its foundations have been laid out as a rest area for passers-by. Visitors can therefore distinguish the historic tower from the grounds intended for a rest, without assuming that the building itself is open to the public.

Another historical reference is the Groot-Seminarie of the Diocese of Den Bosch, which stood in Haaren from 1839 to 1967. Gedenkplaats Kamp Haaren commemorates events of the Second World War that took place in the former Groot-Seminarie, as well as in its buildings and surrounding area. Kasteel Nemerlaer is also part of the historical selection: it was originally a medieval castle and is set on an extensive estate.

Hiking and Cycling Around Haaren

The Heide- en Hertogenwandelroute is 15.5 kilometres long. Its green-and-yellow waymarks lead from one hiking junction to the next; the trail passes through the varied landscapes of the Kampina and Landgoed Nemerlaer in Haaren. The route thus combines a clearly stated distance with a course through two distinct landscape areas.

A different distance applies to the Pelgrimspad: one of its stages ends in Haaren after 19 kilometres. The 19 kilometres therefore describe a stage with Haaren as its destination, not a second distance for the Heide- en Hertogenwandelroute. On the Marikenpad, Stage 4a passes through Haaren on the route from Den Bosch to Tilburg. For planning purposes, it makes a difference whether Haaren is the destination of a stage, a place to pass through between two cities, or the starting point for a hike through the Kampina and Landgoed Nemerlaer.

Those who prefer to travel by bicycle have another option in the Oisterwijk Leather Route: it leads by bike into the rural surroundings of Haaren. This is a separate travel option alongside the hiking stages and the Heide- en Hertogenwandelroute, not a statement about a connection between these routes.

Garden Tours and Asparagus Season

At Het Kruidenrijk in Haaren, guided tours are open to everyone. They take visitors through the garden and orchard. This adds a garden-focused experience to the trails through the landscape, with a different theme from the historic sites and marked hiking routes.

Local asparagus production also has a distinct seasonal connection. Henk and Hannie van Empel’s white asparagus is grown in Haaren on Brabant’s sandy soils using environmentally conscious methods. From March to June, it is freshly cut in the fields every morning; it is then sorted, washed, and peeled on the farm. Those who want to combine their travel dates with an interest in regional food can use this period as a seasonal guide.

The options in Haaren can be weighted according to your interests: church architecture and local history, remembrance of events of the Second World War, marked trails, an open garden tour, or the seasonal connection with asparagus. The specific distances and the different roles of the hiking stages help with planning a hike; for a visit to the Oude Toren, the fact that it is closed to the public is an important restriction.

Discover more destinations: Helvoirt, Biezenmortel.

Go to the main travel overview: Haaren.