Top 20 Natural Monuments around Oosterhout

More and more people want to connect with nature. During their lives they enjoy it, but increasingly they also opt for a final resting place in nature. Natuurmonumenten and Natuurbegraven Nederland are working together to strengthen nature in combination with the possibility of natural burial. At Huis ter Heide, a natural burial ground, memorial forest De Spinder, was opened in 2021. In the Gedenkbos, on a central hillock since February 2026, next to the work shed, there is also a monument for all Brabant covid victims. The monument is surrounded by a large pentagonal bench, for remembrance and reflection. Source and more, also about the memorial forest itself at https://gedenkbosdespinder.nl/actueel/

Where nature is still something sustainable...

Memorial forest De Spinder is a small-scale, personal memorial forest north of Tilburg. For your memorial tree or other memorial monument, a private – with wooded banks – spacious field of approximately 10 square meters is available between tall, sun-permeable trees with plenty of privacy. Or you can choose a spot near a tree or a bush on a collective field.

The Kaatsheuvel ice rink is not a natural fen. The lake was dug by human hands. During the crisis years 1929-1940, the government looked for a job creation project to help the unemployed find work. The municipality of Loon op Zand had an idea: an ice rink to offer residents some winter fun during those economically difficult years. The construction of the ice rink started in 1933 under the direction of the Nederlandsche Heidemaatschappij. Excavators already existed, but to keep the employees busy, the excavation work could not be completed too quickly. All the sand had to be dug out with a shovel, the local history society reported on the board. “And are removed with wheelbarrows.” The ice rink was festively opened on January 27, 1934. An ice club was also founded. That first winter there were already more than 4,000 skaters on the ice. Animals also benefit The ice rink brought fun not only to residents of the region. Animals also benefited from excavating the lake, says Natuurmonumenten. Outside the skating season, birds, insects and other animals would benefit from the water in the otherwise dry drifting sand area of the Loonse and Drunense Duinen. The Kaatsheuvel ice rink can hardly be called a real ice rink anymore. The ice club was defunct in 1950 and in recent years, due to the mild winters, there is hardly any skating on the lake. But if it is possible, the skates are still tied.

Park Valkenberg is the green oasis in the city center of Breda. A park with royal allure where, until the early nineteenth century, only the castle residents and their guests were welcome. Nowadays it is a wonderful meeting place. Students look for the sun or the shade of the centuries-old trees. Fathers and mothers let their offspring play in the playground while they sit on the terrace of the T-House. Even the geese feel at home there. Falconry The park owes its name to a falcon house that stood on the edge and from which the castle residents and their guests practiced falconry. Live music regularly plays in the park.

Picturesque pictures are made here...

Older residents know: The "Kaatsheuvelse Ijsbaan" is not a natural body of water, it was dug by human hands. During the crisis years 1929 - 1940 the government looked for a project to create jobs for the unemployed. The municipality of Loon op Zand had an idea: an ice rink to offer residents some winter fun during these difficult economic years. Construction of the ice rink began in 1933 under the direction of the Nederlandse Heidemaatsschappij. Excavators already existed, but in order to keep the workers busy, the excavation work should not be completed too quickly. All the sand had to be dug out with shovels and then carted away with wheelbarrows. The ice rink was officially opened on January 27, 1934 and an ice sports club was founded. In the first winter there were about 4,000 skaters on the ice. Over the decades, the artificial lake developed into an important place for birds, insects and other animals, which found a watering hole in this otherwise mostly dry shifting sand area.

A beautiful location with picturesque views, especially in winter with frost