Holiday apartment in Zeeland: Discover churches, mills and trails

Zeeland combines sacred architecture, milling history, cultural walks, cycling paths and nature. The Heilige Jacobus de Meerdere complex comprises a rectory in the Neo-Renaissance style, a Neo-Gothic church, a Neo-Gothic cemetery chapel or mortuary as well as a Sacred Heart image.

Church, art and pilgrimage

At the beginning of the 20th century, Zeeland developed into a highly visited pilgrimage site where Saint Cornelius was venerated in the local Sint-Jacobus de Meerderekerk. The Neo-Gothic church was built between 1870 and 1872 according to plans by the architect Cornelis van Dijk. Its furnishings include 24 figurative stained-glass windows from the Frans Nicolas en Zonen studio in Roermond. The organ was built in 1895 by Franciscus Smits from Reek, has been a Rijksmonument since 1992 and can still be heard in its original condition today.

Mills and historical traces

The mills also tell a story of changes and reconstruction. Molen Sint Victor was built in 1938 as an octagonal Dutch smock windmill with a gallery, after a tornado had completely destroyed the previous mill on 10 August 1925. Coppensmolen Zeeland began in 1857 as a wooden wind-powered grain mill. After being completely destroyed by lightning in 1883, it was replaced by a stone ground-sail windmill. Detailed tours of Coppensmolen can be arranged by telephone; groups are also welcome.

The historical sites also include the Grafzerken Zeeland at the R.K. Cemetery. The historic gravestones are presented as a journey through Zeeland’s history. QR codes on the gravestones make it possible to use a mobile phone to access further information about the respective grave and the person buried there. A cycling route focusing on the architecture of the Bossche School passes the former municipal office of the municipality of Landerd at Kerkstraat 39, designed by Jan de Jong in 1981.

Cultural walks and trails

Heemhuis De Hooge Raam is the starting point for the Kerkstraat Noord and Kerkstraat Midden cultural walks. Along the way, they provide interesting information about houses, the mill, the church and the municipal office. Group tours at the Heemhuis can be requested for families or groups of friends. The Oventje cultural walk combines local history, including the 1925 storm disaster, with the mill, the field kiln and the Marian chapel, as well as information about plants and animals.

For longer walks, the 12.66-kilometre Trentse Bossenpad is available. It begins on the edge of the hamlet of ’t Oventje in the Brabant village of Zeeland. In its second section, the trail follows the Duits Lijntje, a former railway line that was part of the connection between London and Berlin. The Trentse Bossenpad also passes Commandobunker 221, the Zeeland bunker. The bunker was built during the Cold War for the nearby Volkel military airfield. Shorter is the approximately four-kilometre ’t Kuierpad circular walking trail through the centre of Zeeland, which takes about an hour. The trail is surfaced in such a way that it is suitable for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility.

Family activities, cycling and nature

The free Kabouterpad at Melkpad combines a gnome hunt with two playgrounds. An activity bag with tasks and a bingo card can be borrowed all year round from the library or at Melkpad 255. For cyclists, the 23-kilometre In het spoor van de storm route runs through Zeeland and Langenboom; it can begin at the church in Zeeland. The Zeeland mountain bike route in De Maashorst runs through the nature core and grazing area of the De Maashorst nature reserve and is classified as a blue route with a moderate difficulty level.

Heemtuin Zeeland adds a botanical perspective to the trails. Many different plants and special trees grow there that can no longer be seen elsewhere. Heemtuin is free of charge and open to everyone; guided tours for groups are available on request. In the centre, Herberg D'n Brouwer is located in a characteristic old brewery and a monument; visitors can eat, drink and stay overnight there.

For the higher-level travel overview: Landerd.