Goolse Secrets Tour Riel

Cafe Kerkzicht
That is our first secret, the name makes sense because you cannot see past the church. The inside of the cafe is a cozy cafe with a billiards table. Outside, a significant change has recently taken place. A very nice and quiet terrace has been built at the back with a real stage for an artist's performance. The lounge area is also very cozy and cozy. Highly recommended to go there for a drink sometime.

The church
The Roman Catholic St. Antonius Abbot Church is an oriented cruciform church with a western entrance tower, built in neo-Gothic style according to a design by PJ van Genk from 1895. The church was expanded in a modified style around 1925. The church is classified as a national monument.
We can see Riel's church tower almost during our entire walk.
Next to the church is the parsonage with coach house from 1873, while a Sacred Heart statue was also placed in 1920.

Den Overkant
Diagonally opposite the sacred heart statue is cafe restaurant den Overkant. The name comes from the period when this establishment was located on the Turnhoutsebaan, opposite the Breehees Camping Farm, with which they are closely associated. It is also wonderful to relax here with a nice terrace at the front and rear. Definitely worth a visit.

We turn right towards Goirle and turn left just before the bridge over the leye
There we walk along the edge of Riel with a beautiful view over the leye and the meadows.
We cross the road from Goirle to Riel, on the traffic island there is another large Rielse Kaai.
We continue walking along the Leye and here you can again enjoy all the natural beauty along the leye. After about 500 meters you look out on a wall, it looks like a kind of dike, but it is the Bels line

Bels Lijntje
The Bels Lijntje or the Baol Boemel is the name for the Dutch part of Railway 29 between Tilburg and Turnhout.
Until 1865, the entire area between Turnhout and Baarle-Nassau was dominated by vast heathlands. In that year, construction of the railway line between Turnhout and Tilburg was started and the Weelde-Merksplas station (south of the Steenweg on Zondereigen) was built. The railway was built and operated by the"Grand Central Belge\\\", which is why the railway line was popularly called"Belslijntje\\\" in (North Brabant) parlance. The opening of the Bels line was in 1867, so 150 years ago this year.
From 1974 to 1982, the Tilburg-Turnhout Steam Train Foundation (SSTT) ran tourist steam train rides from Tilburg to the border and back.
In 1986, the rails and sleepers were removed from Turnhout to the border.
In 1989, a cycle path was constructed across the bed from Tilburg (Oude Warande) to Turnhout.
2017 is the year that the Bels Lijntje has existed for 150 years and work has started on widening this cycle path. The section between Tilburg and Riel has currently been opened up.
We cross the Bels line and continue to follow the Leye,

Before us we see the A58 national road, which was opened in 1971 (145 years after the first paved road between Breda and Tilburg). The path bends to the left and we walk straight towards the water treatment plant. After the gate we arrive at a paved road that runs between the meadows to Riel. Here you have a view on the left of the old mill of Riel, without sails.
The mill in Riel is very old. On March 27, 1651, Adam Wijts founded the flour mill in Riel. This standard mill burned down in 1741 and 1855, after which the existing stone mill was built.
the mill was dismantled in 1927. In 1987, the mill hull was fitted with a replica hood, after which a house was built against and in the mill in 2000. The mill is now owned by John van Lieshout, who has established a barbershop in it.

On the right you will see the houses of the camping farm"van't Zandeind\\\" which has already won many prizes. Feel free to drop by farmer Jos, he has set up a small regional museum in the stable of his farm. At the end of the road we turn right towards Gilze and at the crucifix we turn left into the railway road where we encounter our next secret on the left.

A beautiful location to relax in the middle of Brabant nature. John and Carolien Adriaansen ensure that you have a carefree stay. And if the guests have fried the eggs overnight, they simply go and get fresh ones in the morning. You can recognize the farmer's suite by the Goole secrets sign on the wall.

On the left you will see the Spaanshoek, but if you are thirsty it is better to walk on and go to the riding school't Zandeind on the right for a snack

Riding school't Zandeind.
This 4-star riding school is run by Huib van der Weide, he teaches riders a love for horses and with a team of experienced instructors it is an important attraction for children from the surrounding area. 

We go back to the Spaanshoek, this name reminds us of the siege of Breda in 1624, at that time the Spaniards were stationed here.

We enjoy the view of the church tower and mill of Riel and arrive at the junction with the Vijfhuizenbaan. Here we turn right towards Gilze until we see a sign for a bridle path in the bend at number 16. We continue here until we reach the road between Riel and Alphen. When we cross we see the Bels Lijntje again on the left and right of us. We cross and enter the Looijenhoek. This name reminds us of the tanneries that existed in Riel.

At the end of this road we cross diagonally to the sand path (just before the RIEL sign). This sandy path leads us along the Riels layer. This area was purchased in parts by the Brabants Landschap between 1992 and 2000 and returned to nature. The water in the southern part was impounded and many bird species settled there, such as the common teal and the northern shoveler. Hen harrier, great and little egret were also observed.
At the end of this path, turn left to walk back to Riel. End of the road on the hard road to the left where you pass two large houses. Joske de Boer's cafe used to be at this location:"de Vriendschap\\\". 

Walk straight past the walnut tree and you are back in the center of Riel. If the walk has made you hungry, in addition to the aforementioned establishments, you can also visit Cafetaria het Luikske, a short distance to the right towards Gilze. Het Luikske is run by the pleasant couple José and Stephan van Buijtenen

Have fun walking Niek Schenning