Discover the Maashorst

The Reeksche and Schaijkse Heide are nature reserves located between Schaijk, Reek, Velp and Langenboom. The Reeksche Heide has been used mainly as a military training area since 1850. The drifting dunes are ideal bullet catchers and to make the exercises run a little more smoothly, a number of building complexes and associated infrastructure have also been constructed. Parts of the area are cordoned off, but where this is not the case, you can enjoy a lovely walk through the coniferous forests of the Reeksche Heide. The Schaijkse Heide is also beautiful. There is also a grazing area in this forest, in which animals roam around a section closed off with game grids. Deer and foxes are not often seen, but are given plenty of peace and space here to maintain the population.

In addition, Scottish Highland cattle roam the area, as well as average forest animals such as rabbits and squirrels. The area surrounding Schaijk has been inhabited for centuries. Remains of a burial mound have been found on the Gaalse Heide, which shows that the area was already inhabited before the Romans arrived. The area was permanently inhabited from 1200 and the town"Schadewijk\\\" was first mentioned in 1383. The Miracle Book of Our Lady of 's-Hertogenbosch describes how Lysbeth Moliaert, from Scaeywijc, miraculously heals from epilepsy. Under the French occupation, Schaijk subsequently became an independent municipality and when the Kingdom of the Netherlands was founded, it remained so. After 1900, the number of inhabitants of the village increased rapidly and in 1942 the municipality of Reek was added to Schaijk.