The best running trails in De Geelders

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Beautiful old industrial railway bridge over the Dommel, Duits lijntje! Near Kasteren station. Cycle on towards Boxtel to under the A2 where you can see beautiful graffiti works👌

Café 't Groene Woud is a traditional village pub on the edge of the Het Groene Woud nature reserve, the expansive landscape between Eindhoven, Tilburg, and 's-Hertogenbosch. The pub has long served as a starting and resting point for hikers and cyclists exploring the Dommel Valley, the Kasteren Heath, and the area's ancient hedgerows. The building is a classic Brabant pub: low, sturdy brickwork, a simple gable roof, and an interior known for its friendly atmosphere. Situated at the intersection of old connecting roads, it historically made a natural stopping place for locals, farmers, and travelers. Today, it is especially popular for its tranquil setting and proximity to the main hiking trails through Het Groene Woud. A recognizable point along the route, it's the ideal place to stop and begin or end your walk.

The former Kasteren Station is located on the former Eindhoven–Eindhoven (Limburg border) railway line of the North Brabant German Railway Company (NBDS), later known as the "German Line." The station opened in 1873 and served as a small stop for the hamlet of Kasteren, between Liempde and Sint-Oedenrode. The building stood along the route that connected international trains to Germany and on to Russia, but passenger services ceased early in the 20th century. After the line closed, the stop lost its function, but the station building was preserved as a recognizable heritage site with the typical NBDS architectural style: a compact stone structure with gables and simple details. Today, the old station is a striking landmark in the landscape along the former railway line, which is now primarily used for walking and cycling.

beautiful route

As the Scottish liberators approach, a café finds itself at the center of the fighting. Soon after, a completely different kind of bustle breaks out. At 7:30 a.m. on Monday, October 23, the 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders begins their advance from the Schijndel Heath along the German line toward Boxtel. In the woods of the Hermalen, near the café Het Groene Woud (then the Slophoos), the Seaforths encounter German resistance and have to neutralize several German positions. However, the advance proceeds smoothly, and at 10:30 a.m., one company reaches the bridge over the Drainage Canal near Boxtel, near the Schijndelsedijk. There, civilians warn them that the bridge will be blown up by the Germans if they attempt to cross. As a precaution, the Seaforths take up positions on the Schijndel side of the bridge. They do, however, fire on the other side, attempting to prevent the Germans from blowing up the bridge. At 11:20 a.m., he finally blew up. This prevented the Seaforths from continuing on to Boxtel. B Company then advanced to the bridge at Munsel, a few hundred meters further on, but they were unable to cross. C Company remained at the blown-up bridge while A and D Companies spent the rest of the day clearing the woods around Hermalen. Several farms were set ablaze in the fighting. Nearly all the farms around the café were also destroyed by fire. Meanwhile, the 2nd's sister battalion, the 5th, had protected the left flank. At dawn on October 23, 1944, they departed from the north of Sint-Oedenrode along the Ollandseweg towards Olland. They managed to capture Olland without losses. Here too, the enemy had withdrawn towards Liempde, extending beyond the Dommel River. They were, however, hampered by mines and roadblocks in the form of trees across the road. At 6:00 PM, they set up their command post at the Slophoos. They remained in position around Holland throughout the night and the following day. It wasn't until the evening of October 24th that they departed in trucks for the north of Schijndel. It must have been incredibly busy; countless trucks and tanks drove past the café. Several units of the 7th Armoured Division, the famous Desert Rats, also passed by. The café itself was briefly used as headquarters by the 5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders.

A café at the heart of liberation As the Scottish liberators approach, a café finds itself at the heart of the fighting. Soon after, a completely different kind of bustle breaks out. At 7:30 a.m. on Monday, October 23, the 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders begins their advance from the Schijndel Heath along the German line toward Boxtel. In the woods of the Hermalen near the café Het Groene Woud (then the Slophoos), the Seaforths encounter German resistance and have to neutralize several German positions. However, the advance proceeds smoothly, and at 10:30 a.m., one company reaches the bridge over the Drainage Canal near Boxtel, near the Schijndelsedijk. There, civilians warn them that the bridge will be blown up by the Germans if they attempt to cross. As a precaution, the Seaforths take up positions on the Schijndel side of the bridge. They did, however, fire on the other side, trying to prevent the Germans from blowing up the bridge. At 11:20 a.m., it was blown up anyway. This prevented the Seaforths from continuing on to Boxtel. B Company then advanced to the bridge at Munsel, a few hundred meters further on, but they were unable to cross. C Company remained at the blown-up bridge while A and D Companies spent the rest of the day clearing the woods around Hermalen. Several farmhouses were set ablaze in the fighting. Nearly all the farmhouses around the café were also destroyed by fire. Meanwhile, the 2nd's sister battalion, the 5th, had protected the left flank. At dawn on October 23, 1944, they departed from the north of Sint-Oedenrode along the Ollandseweg towards Olland. They managed to capture Olland without losses. Here too, the enemy had withdrawn towards Liempde, all the way behind the Dommel River. They were hampered by mines and roadblocks in the form of trees across the road. At 6:00 PM, they set up their command post at the Slophoos. They remained in position around Holland throughout the night and the following day. It wasn't until the evening of October 24th that they departed in trucks for the north of Schijndel. It must have been incredibly busy; countless trucks and tanks drove past the café. Several units of the 7th Armoured Division, the famous Desert Rats, also passed by. The café itself was briefly used as headquarters by the 5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders.

Very nice (and narrow) strip along the old railway tracks through the woods. You cross the Dommel via the bridge, you have to get off your bike here.