Rucphense Bossen Nispen, Rucphen and Roosendaal

An original cover sand ridge, which formed a heathland and drifting sand area, was planted with conifers at the beginning of the 20th century. This is how the forests were created, covering approximately 1,200 hectares, covered with wonderfully scented European larch, the well-known Scots pine and full-grown Douglas fir. Agricultural enclaves are hidden between the trees like spots, but the original drifting sand and heath relics can still be found here. This beautiful forest area extends to the border of Belgium between Roosendaal and Rucphen: the Rucphense Bossen. You will also enjoy the Oud Buisse Heide and feast your eyes. Beautiful estates are surrounded by ancient forests, spacious fields and meadows, fens and heathland. Beautiful farms complete the picturesque picture of the Oud Buisse Heide. Our cycling route starts at Het Zuivelhuis Textielhuis VOF in Nispen. You can park your car here for free and of course you can go to the supermarket for everything you like along the way: from a block of cheese or sausage and a savory biscuit to satisfy your hunger, to a thirst-quenching apple and a bottle of water. Once you have made your choice, you can also visit the chapel, which is less than a kilometer away in the village. This chapel was inaugurated on May 4, 1946, the chapel for Mary, Queen of Peace, and was built in memory of the war victims of WWII. The reason for building this chapel is not difficult: when the original old church tower of Nispen was blown up by German occupiers, 22 residents of the village were killed. A plaque has been built into the peace chapel to commemorate these victims. You cycle through the Rucphen forests to the Wallsteijn estate, which was built around 1800 by the then sheriff of Zundert; Frederik van de Wall. The country house has a number of spacious outbuildings such as an orangery, a garden house, a coach house, a central longitudinal farm and a longitudinal barn. The Zondreef, a beautiful avenue that leads to a viewing dome in the south of the estate, runs past the country house on this estate. Because this dome is located on an elevation, you have a beautiful view over the fields from here. Enjoy your eyesight while exploring the beautiful tree-lined avenues and park forests of the Oud Buisse Heide. On this part of the tour you will see the De Moeren estate. The country house was built in 1817 in the De Moeren nature reserve of the same name, there is also a coach house and an authentic wooden barn. North of De Moeren is the Maria Toevlucht Abbey, a Trappist abbey that was founded here in 1899 by some monks from Abij De Koningshoeven in Tilburg. The abbey owes its name to the fact that it was supposed to be a refuge in case the French Trappists were expelled, something that never happened. On June 22, 1909, the brothers returned to their mother abbey in Tilburg. In the 1990s, after a period of little entry, a number of young monks entered again so that the abbey could continue to exist. Today the community has 25 monks. The De Biekorf estate is also a feast for the eyes. Although not much is known about this beautiful country house, it is clear that the stately building must have been built by a wealthy owner. The house, which has a luxurious appearance, is surrounded by beautiful tree-lined avenues and park forests consisting of deciduous and coniferous trees. You cycle through the heart of the Rucphense Bossen back to Nispen, where you will see the Aerden mill before returning to the supermarket. This belt mill was built in 1850, twenty years after the Provincial Executive granted permission to build the mill. Construction was delayed due to the Belgian uprising. The mill originally had no name and was often referred to as 'the Aerden mill', a reference to a family that owned it for a long time. In 1927 the mill was in such poor condition that it could no longer be used for grinding. Many minor repairs and improvements followed. Unfortunately, after all that work, it is still not clear whether the mill will operate regularly again in the future. Once you have secured your bicycle back to the bicycle carrier of your car, all you have to do is go to the supermarket and buy the fresh ingredients you need to put a delicious meal on the table at home. This way you can enjoy a wonderful day in the woods at your own cozy dining table.