Around Helmond and the Croy estate

Despite being an agglomeration of Eindhoven, Helmond has managed to retain its own character. It is a city with a past steeped in the metal and textile industry and there are still plenty of historical elements that remind us that Helmond was once a fortified city. Three of the four centers that make up Helmond are former villages that have retained their village appearance and atmosphere.

You leave from the parking lot in Helmond and cycle deeper into the built-up area until you see the round stone mill De Ellenaar. This mill served as a flour mill and is also called the Elder Mill. Even before the Second World War, the mill fell into disrepair because it was taken out of operation. Some restorations followed, but the mill was never made operational again.

You continue cycling through Mierlo, the village suburb of Helmond and drive to the next center; Polka dot wood. From here the route leads away from Helmond. Croy Castle rises between the village of Aarle-Rixtel and Stiphout.

Get on your bike and explore the nature around Helmond. You cycle between the pine trees of the landscaped Grotelse Bos to the De Stippelberg nature reserve. This extensive nature reserve has a great diversity of flora and fauna because it consists of forests, sand drifts and heathland. The nature here is rugged, because most of the time the area is only managed by Scottish Highlanders. Various small predators and rodents forage among the trees and more than eighty bird species survive here.

After you have left De Stippelberg behind you and cycled through the small village of Milheeze, you will come across the Laurentia. The octagonal belt mill was built in 1890, but at that time it was still called Ludolizawi. During a restoration in 1965, the mill was renamed the Laurentia. The mill is still operational, but is no longer used.

The last sight of this cycle tour is another mill a little further along the route. The St. Willebrordus is a completely different type of mill than the Laurentia, namely a closed standard mill. The St. Willebrordus was built in 1586, but in 1893 it was moved 50 meters to the west. The mill is still ready to grind and is in excellent condition.