Discover Sprang-Capelle through two distinct themes: the landscape of the Slagenland and the history of the Langstraat, from historic mills to memorial sites. The Laarzenpad offers views of the cultural landscape on foot; two themed cycling routes focus on historic village centres and Second World War memorials. This lets you tailor your stay to what interests you most.

Langstraat: a landscape with its own distinctive character

The Langstraat landscape near Sprang-Capelle is a drained peat meadow area and a remnant of an old strip-field landscape. Very long, narrow grassland plots, alder hedgerows and ditches define this landscape. It also features floating fens, species-rich grasslands on nutrient-poor soil, sedge marshes and, in places, wet heathland. The focus is therefore not only on the habitats but also on the landscape’s historic features: the narrow strips give the Slagenland landscape its characteristic structure, while the ditches and wetlands reflect its damp character. The Langstraat Natura 2000 site is located near Sprang-Capelle.

The Laarzenpad starts at Natuurinfo Sprang-Capelle and offers the opportunity to explore on foot the Slagenland landscape, which is protected as cultural heritage. It is a good choice if you want to make the landscape itself the focus of your visit. The cycling routes, by contrast, draw attention to local history and remembrance.

Cycling: village centres or war memorials

“Op pad in de historische Langstraat” links the historically independent village centres of Waspik, Capelle, Sprang, Vrijhoeve, Besoijen, Waalwijk and Baardwijk. In the historic village centres of Waalwijk, Sprang-Capelle and Waspik, the route marks a total of 24 historically significant points with information panels. It is about 42 kilometres long in its entirety, but you can also cycle it in sections. This gives you the choice between the full route linking several village centres and individual sections.

The “Fietsroute langs WO2 monumenten Waalwijk” has a narrower thematic focus. It passes through Waalwijk, Sprang-Capelle and Waspik, and an accompanying brochure explains 22 Second World War monuments and memorial sites. The starting point is at Cultureel Centrum Zidewinde, Julianalaan 1, 5161 BA Sprang-Capelle. The routes differ mainly in their historical perspective: one links several village centres and their history, while the other focuses on remembrance of the Second World War.

Mill, local history and remembrance

Dye Sprancke is a closed post mill and grain mill, first mentioned in 1490. The present mill dates from 1855 and was largely built using parts from the demolished post mill in Vrijhoeve. Restored several times, it is designated a Rijksmonument. The dates tell of different chapters: the first mention goes back a long way, while the present building dates from the 19th century.

Kasteel Zuidewijn is also part of local history. The same family lived there almost continuously from the 15th century onwards. The Heemkundevereniging Sprang-Capelle offers another connection to local history. Its collections include a local history library, an archive, historic everyday objects, a themed exhibition room and an audiovisual room with films about the history of Sprang-Capelle. The Kapelsche Veer memorial commemorates the fierce fighting between the Allies and the German occupying forces in the winter of 1944–1945. Together, these offer a range of ways to explore the past: architectural and family history, local collections, and remembrance of wartime events.

Discover more destinations: Waspik, Waalwijk.

Go to the main travel overview: Waalwijk.