Veghel: Industrial Heritage, Churches and Routes Along the Aa

Veghel offers several distinct starting points for a stay: the Noordkade represents industrial history and today’s cultural offerings, while the Aa-Broeken offers wetlands and walking routes; there are also churches and outdoor art. If you’re looking for a hotel in Veghel, you can first decide whether culture, countryside or a boat trip will shape your stay.

Industrial history at the Noordkade

The CHV cooperative opened its largest animal feed factory on the Noordkade site in 1915. Today, the former factory buildings host music, dance, theatre and culinary experiences. The Noordkade is therefore a destination in its own right if you’d like to discover Veghel through its industrial heritage and contemporary cultural offerings.

The Chocolate Factory is housed in a former factory tower at the Noordkade, considered an important piece of historic heritage. This interactive, educational attraction is for visitors of all ages. The SIEMei Museum showcases examples of industrial and craft activities in the Meierij through typesetting machines, wood chippers, an excavator, old telephones, tools and a band saw. SIEMei also offers bookable guided tours of the Noordkade.

At De Proeffabriek on the Noordkade, visitors can experience, view, taste and buy products. Together with the cultural offerings in the former factory buildings, it provides a varied look at how the industrial site is used today.

Churches and historic heritage

The Sint-Lambertuskerk is a large, three-aisled neo-Gothic cruciform basilica and a Rijksmonument, designed by Pierre Cuypers. It was badly damaged during the Second World War and Operation Market Garden. After the liberation, the church was fully restored, with some changes.

Its medieval predecessor stood on Den Kerkhof, near the Aa. This earlier Sint-Lambertuskerk was built in the 12th century and demolished around 1872, after the new church had been consecrated. The two church buildings therefore reflect different periods in the town’s history.

The old railway bridge over the Aa is also a Rijksmonument. The adjacent cycling bridge displays the names of all the former stops on the Duits Lijntje. The 18-kilometre route passes through Olland, Schijndel, Eerde, Veghel and Mariaheide.

Aa-Broeken and routes through the countryside

The Aa-Broeken is a low-lying wetland. Groundwater emerges there as seepage; the moisture supports the growth of many plant species traditionally found along the Aa and in the low-lying marshlands around Veghel. The Dorshout and Aa-Broeken walking route passes through Veghel’s traditional countryside, with meadows, ridge-and-furrow fields and centuries-old farmhouses in the hamlet of Dorshout, as well as through the Aa-Broeken nature reserve.

Another walking route, the Aa-Broeken walking route, starts near the market square at the edge of Julianapark. It follows signposted walking junctions; the starting point is junction 54. Check the route markings and conditions before setting out. The Historisch Veghel walking route is 6.5 kilometres long.

For outdoor art, take the Kunstwandelroute Veghel: this circular walk passes artworks and lets you experience Veghel as an open-air museum. A ten-metre-high piece of façade art along the route honours the Franciscan Sisters of Veghel and depicts the story of creation. The Kunstfietsrute Veghel en omgeving is 29.5 kilometres long. It passes through Veghel, Eerde, Zijtaart, Keldonk and Erp, linking outdoor artworks with nature and terraces along the way.

Boat trips and harbour

The Fluisterboot Veghel departs from the market square in Veghel, travels along the Aa past the Aa-Broeken and continues to the historic Zwanenburg estate. It runs regularly from April to September on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays; tickets can be booked online up to 48 hours before departure. Check the current timetable when planning your trip.

A cruise on the Zuid-Willemsvaart starts at the Noordkade and follows the industrial harbour towards the lock near Schijndel. Visitors can also explore Veghel harbour and the Zuid-Willemsvaart from the Noordkade on a SUP board.

The Passantenhaven Veghel offers more than 30 berths for visiting boaters. The pontoons have electricity and water, a wastewater pump-out system, sanitary facilities, a washing machine and dryer, free Wi-Fi and rental bicycles. Check which facilities are available before your trip.

Green space in town

Kloostertuin Veghel is a green park with old trees, a pond, a cemetery, benches and sculptures. A moat runs around the park. The garden adds its own green space to an itinerary of historic buildings and longer routes through the countryside.

Discover more destinations: Erp.

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