Historical Heeze
The pearl of Brabant
Heeze
At first glance: a contemporary village. At second glance? A historical gem. It is precisely this dynamism that makes Heeze so versatile. Above all, it is a place with a rich cultural history, beautifully situated near the Strabrechtse heath.
Walking or driving through Heeze, you pass various buildings and locations that tell a fascinating story. Some are easily recognizable, such as Heeze Castle. Others are inconspicuous, like the beautiful rectory. Intertwined with hospitality, shops, and boutiques, they form a lively center where there is something for everyone to experience.
Undoubtedly, the highlight in the village is the annual theater parade of the Brabantsedag, held every last Sunday of August. Around 40,000 visitors come from far and wide to marvel at the splendid creations and actors from various float-building groups. Each group uniquely portrays the rich history of the Duchy of Brabant. In over 60 years, the Brabantsedag has grown into an event of international allure. A synergy of cabaret, art, theater, street performance, and music, providing a unique experience for both young and old.
But Heeze is more than the Brabantsedag. It is a place where you can recharge and stay in many different ways. Where you can endlessly wander over the purple heath and enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner.
A place where, in addition to sports and relaxation, modern art and culture also have ample space. Like at the approachable Kunstsmullen, where all senses are stimulated by connecting art, culture, and local gastronomy.
Visit Heeze by bike, on foot, or by train. Let yourself be surprised and discover something new, whether within yourself or in others.
Noble Residence, Heeze Castle
For centuries, Heeze Castle has been the focal point of the lordship of Heeze, Leende, and Zesgehuchten. It consists of two parts: the medieval castle Eymerick and the newer seventeenth-century castle. The noble Van Tuyll family resides here. A portion of the stately residence is open to the public, and the seventeenth-century interior is largely preserved. Particularly noteworthy are the lavishly decorated bathroom from the eighteenth century, beautiful seventeenth-century tapestries, and the secret room.
More about Castle Heeze
Counting Sheep at the Sheepfold
Adjacent to the Strabrechtse Heath lies a genuine sheepfold. Here, a herd of over 350 Kempische heath sheep often resides, grazing on the heathlands of North Brabant. The herd can be admired almost throughout the year during a hike or bike ride across the Strabrechtse Heath. In spring, the sheep can be observed during the annually recurring Lamb Day.
Sheepfold Heeze
De Plaetse 70
Heeze
The biggest theater parade of the year: Brabantsedag
A theater parade with house-high sets and two thousand actors portraying the culture and history of the Duchy of Brabant.
That is the Brabantsedag. A special event for young and old, where seriousness and humor, reality and fantasy alternate. An overwhelming experience!
On the last Sunday in August, at 1:30 p.m., the theater parade gets underway and captivates the audience with expressive theatrical acting.
More about the Brabantsedag
Back in time on Strabrechtplein
Strabrechtplein was once one of the most beautiful places in Heeze. In 1830 the hamlet consisted of 45 farms and houses. An ancient settlement where time had stood still.
Here the painters from the Hague and Amsterdam schools could indulge themselves completely. Even today the square surrounded by beautiful long-gabled farmhouses is still well worth a visit. Cycle past!
Strabrechtplein
Heeze
The glorious history of the Brabantsedag: The Walk of Fame
In 2012, the Friends of Heeze launched the Brabantsedag Walk of Fame in the center of Heeze. This special series of commemorative stones along Heeze's main road honors the winners of each edition of the Brabantsedag, starting from the very first event. The Walk of Fame is a unique initiative that records the history of the Brabantsedag in the town.
The Sint Victor Mill: A windy journey through Heeze's history
The Sint Victor mill in Heeze, built in 1852 for J.F. Pompen, has had a fascinating history over the years. Originally, this versatile mill served as a center for various activities, including grinding grain, processing bark and pressing oil.
It is noteworthy that the mill was struck by fire twice, in 1862 and 1904, but both times a quick recovery followed. After the last fire, in 1922, the mill became the property of P.H.H. "Pierre" Trouwen of Nederweert. Despite modernization of the rods in 1942, wind operation came to a halt when Louis Trouwen and his brother Jan took over the milling business.
In 1983/1984 the mill underwent a thorough restoration, breathing new life into the dilapidated structure. Further restorations took place in 2005 and 2013. The mill, with its unique details such as the large rough-hewn neckstone, distinctive catches and hand-tipped swords, remains a fascinating piece of heritage.
The mill's loft is remarkably decorated, with a drag sluice that could be powered by both wind and electricity, and a Jacob's ladder. Although the mill changed hands, with names such as Pompen, Van Asten, and, since 1997, the municipality of Heeze-Leende, it remains a valuable contribution to local history. With a recent history of producing consumable flour by wind power, the Sint Victor mill remains a living and important piece of heritage in Heeze.
Read more about the Sint Victor Mill
The hidden history of the ice cellar
In the woods behind the icehouse and castle of Heeze, Allied soldiers set up camp after the liberation. The trees still bear notches from that time, a reminder of the supply lines from Normandy. The ice cellar, built in 1907, was strategically placed near the castle moat and served to store ice.The process of "icing" involved sawing and cutting ice on the moat, followed by stacking the ice blocks in the cellar. The ice was used in the summer for cooling drinks, meat, fish and other household purposes, mainly by the residents of the castle and Hotel Barendsma.
The ice cellar fell into disrepair after World War II and later became a play object for youth. In 1983, the IVN restored the ice cellar and converted it into a winter home for bats. The cellar was given a new function and thus retains its socio-cultural value, while also being preserved as a monument. In the winter of 1989-1990, five bats were observed, indicating that the ice cellar still plays an important role in local nature and history today.
Read more about the ice cellar
The enchanting legend of Kapellerput
Let the enchanting legend of Kapellerput take you to the peaceful woods of Heeze. Mr L. Verest from Heeze, through his mother, shares the story of Ome Driek taking him to the intriguing Kapellerput, where a chapel is said to have once sunk into the ground. In days gone by, monks built a chapel here and the robber knight Black Narob, promised to leave it alone after the monks rescued his daughter Venka. However, his promise was forgotten. One fateful night, his wife Euvelwinde and daughter Venka prayed in the chapel for his conversion, so they returned home a drunk and angry Black Narob.
He summoned his soldiers to loot the chapel. The chapel-goers escaped through a secret passage, but when the soldiers struck, the chapel collapsed and turned into a pond - a divine punishment for Black Narob's evil deeds.
Euvelwinde and Venka became good people and were immortalised in the places Euvelwege and De Ven. This legend is the essence of today's Kapellerput, located in the peaceful estate of Heeze. The atmospheric hotel, steeped in creativity, offers contemporary interiors and hospitality that feels natural.
At Kapellerput, you experience not just a hospitable stay, but a journey through time, rooted in a fascinating legend. Welcome to Kapellerput, where the mystique of the past merges with contemporary comfort.
Somerenseweg 100
Heeze
More about this myth
The crucifix along the Somerenseweg in Heeze
In Heeze, a roadside crucifix was placed at the Ginderover- Sterkelseweg intersection by the Ginderover neighbourhood around 1930. The Van Werde brothers were the initiators.Mrs P. Adams (1918) says that, coming from Ginderover, you looked straight at the crucifix. It stood in a flowerbed surrounded by a hedge. Behind the cross was a brick fire pit. Due to a reconstruction of the Heeze-Sterksel road, the crucifix was moved to Somerenseweg. Two years ago, the crucifix and cross were restored by the municipality. Christ is depicted as the suffering Christ with a crown of thorns on his head. The feet are nailed across each other on the cross and the silk wound is on the right side of the body. This was related to the Bible text of Ezekiel 47-2. There it says: "I saw the water flowing from the temple on the right side." Thus, in connection with the view that the Church was born from Christ's side wound, it was obvious that this wound was applied on the right. All wounds are surrounded with blood. Christ's head inclines to the right, to Mary and to 'the good murderer'. Mary and the good murderer are also the symbol of the Church. Hence Mary and the good murderer are to the right of the cross.
D'n Toversnest
The former R.K. Liefdesgesticht, known as D'n Toversnest, is located at Jan Deckerstraat 26 in Heeze. Originally named the Sint Nicasiusgesticht, it is situated on Wilhelminaplein in the historic center of the village. In 1881, this convent, dedicated to Saint Nicasius, was built for the Sisters of the Society of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Throughout the twentieth century, it provided shelter for elderly villagers, cared for by the aforementioned sisters, and embodied the rich Roman Catholic architecture of that era.
After the demolition of the old church in 1933 and the construction of the new Martinuskerk, the convent sisters were granted their own chapel, partially built on the foundations of the old tower. The sturdier walls of this tower are still visible in both the ground and upper floors of the chapel. After the departure of the sisters and the transformation of D'n Toversnest into a community center, the chapel was adapted for various gatherings and theatrical rehearsals. The imposing Toversnest, hidden behind the lime trees of Wilhelminaplein, remains a striking and distinctive landmark in Heeze.