Haaren: History, Routes and Local Impressions

If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Haaren, local points of interest can help guide your choice: historic buildings, routes through the countryside and a seasonal connection to agriculture offer different experiences. To plan your trip, you can first decide whether architectural history, a longer hike or a cycling tour will be your main focus.

Churches, Seminary and Remembrance

The Roman Catholic Sint-Lambertus Church was built between 1912 and 1914 in Neo-Gothic style; the design is by architect W. Th. van Aalst. Another point of reference for sacred history is the Oude Toren, the surviving part of St. Lambertus Church dating from 1472. The tower is closed to the public. The grounds around its foundations have been laid out as a rest area for passers-by. These different dates offer two specific points of reference if you are interested in Haaren’s architectural history.

The Groot-Seminarie of the Diocese of Den Bosch was located in Haaren from 1839 to 1967. Gedenkplaats Kamp Haaren commemorates the events of the Second World War that took place in the former Groot-Seminarie, its buildings and the surrounding area. In Haaren, the history of a religious institution and the remembrance of wartime events are thus directly connected to the place.

Hiking Trails and Route Choices

If you would like to explore Haaren on foot, the Heide- en Hertogenwandelroute offers specific information about its length and route: it is 15.5 kilometres long and follows the green-and-yellow waymarks from one walking junction to the next. The route passes through the varied landscapes of the Kampina and the Nemerlaer Estate in Haaren. Its length and waymarking give you a practical basis for choosing a route.

The Pelgrimspad also has a clear connection to Haaren: one of its stages ends in the town after 19 kilometres. Stage 4a of the Marikenpad follows a different course. It passes through Haaren on the route from Den Bosch to Tilburg. This distinction is useful for planning: on the Pelgrimspad, Haaren is the endpoint of the stage mentioned; on the Marikenpad, it lies along a connection between the two cities.

The Oisterwijk Leather Route leads by bicycle into the countryside around Haaren. It therefore complements the hiking routes described above with a cycling route. If you include different routes in your travel plans, you can distinguish between them by mode of travel and course.

Seasonal Produce and Historical Impressions

Henk and Hannie van Empel’s white asparagus is grown in Haaren on the Brabant sandy soils using nature- and environmentally conscious methods. From March to June, it is freshly picked in the field every morning and then sorted, washed and peeled on the farm. This period gives local cultivation a distinct seasonal rhythm. When planning your travel dates, you can take this connection to agriculture into account alongside your interest in architectural history or routes.

Kasteel Nemerlaer adds another historical point of interest: the castle was originally a medieval fortress and is situated on an extensive estate. Together with the churches and seminary, it offers another way to explore Haaren’s history.

Discover more destinations: Biezenmortel, Helvoirt.

Return to the main travel overview: Haaren.