Wilbertoord: Walking Routes and Local History

Wilbertoord can be explored from two perspectives: its landscape of forests, grassland, heathland and inland dunes, and a local history connected with the reclamation of the Princepeel. For planning your trip, there are two walking routes with different focuses, as well as the Wilbertoord Pakt Uut festival. You can make the landscape, history or a festival the starting point for your stay.

Walking routes through landscapes and forests

The Ommetje Wilbertoord is a 6-kilometre walking route. It follows a forest path around the “zilvermeer”. Its clearly stated length makes it easy to plan this walk as a separate activity. The Ommetje therefore focuses on a specific route length and the forest path by the “zilvermeer”.

The “Wilbertoord, Langenboom, Sint Hubert” route passes through the Langenboom forests and the De Maurik nature area, across the fields around Haps and Sint Hubert, through Wilbertoord and on to the Molenheide forests. Its description highlights a succession of different landscape areas. When comparing walks, you can use the six-kilometre distance as a fixed reference for the Ommetje; the route named after the three villages focuses on the forests, nature area and open fields mentioned along the way.

The Princepeel and local history

Wilbertoord owes its origins to the reclamation of the Princepeel. Landgoed Princepeel was sold publicly in 1864 and has since been farmed and inhabited by tenant farmers and owners as a single, intact estate. Huize Princepeel, the manor house on the estate, was built in 1870. Six years separate the sale of the estate from the construction of the house.

The “Turfsteker” statue was unveiled at St. Josephplein in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of Vereniging Wilbertoord. The “De turfsteker” figure in the town centre recalls the settlement’s beginnings, when the heathland of the Princepeel was reclaimed. Another historical monument is “Wilbertoord – Groespeelweg – Peel Raamstelling” in Wilbertoord/Defensiekanaal. Its designation date is given as 1 November 2004.

Festival and event

A 2024 description by the regional tourism authority calls Wilbertoord Pakt Uut a traditional recurring festival. It lists a classic car show, a music festival, trade markets, motocross demonstrations and activities for children. The different events give the festival several focal points, from vehicles and music to markets and demonstrations. If the festival is a key factor in planning your trip, check the event date in advance.

Whether you are choosing your stay with a walk, the history surrounding the Princepeel or Wilbertoord Pakt Uut in mind, these themes offer different ways to explore the town. The named routes provide practical guidance for planning a walk; the local history connects Wilbertoord’s origins with the estate and its manor house.

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Return to the main travel overview: Mill En Sint Hubert.