Mill fields and Zandoerle

The name Molenvelden reminds us of the corn mill, which stood here on the heath fields from the 14th century. The farmers in the area had to have their grain ground at this windmill; the mill owned the'banrecht\\\'. This banmolen was owned by the Premonstratensians of Postel Abbey (Belgium).

There is still a low-lying field between the woods in the area where the water of the Huismeer used to be. The presence of willows along the field and the meadow indicates that it is (or has been) wet here.

Beautiful beech avenues and many birds can be found in the varied nature reserve. Just notice the holes that woodpeckers have made in the trees along the paths.

Trees, stones, posts and streams used to be natural markers of boundary lines or boundary points. Likewise here; the boundary stone on the five-way junction indicates the place where three municipalities came together: Knegsel, Zandoerle and Vessem. The current stone was laid in 1993, at the place called'ter meulen pael\\\', to replace its mysteriously disappeared predecessor.

The banmolen stood here between 1360 and 1462, before it was moved 600 meters west to the'molenberg\\\'. This mill mountain is located near the highest place in the municipality of Veldhoven; one is here at 26.6 meters above sea level. 

There are bramble bushes in several places in the area. The common blackberry, called"brembezie\\\" in the Kempen dialect, has probably been eaten by man for thousands of years.

There are also sweet chestnuts in various places. This tree has elongated leaves, up to 15 cm long, with pointed edges. The sweet chestnut is around 100 AD. brought to our region by the Romans. The wood of the sweet chestnut is harder than that of its wild namesake, much like oak. It is used, among other things, for furniture and parquet floors.

Places of interest in Zandoerle:

- the old green surrounded by several monumental long-gabled farms

- cannon from WWII (on the green)

- Mariakapel'Our Lady of't Zand\\\'

- visitor center Toterfout

-'t Geitenboerke

This walking route can be combined very well with the route'Toterfout & Halfmijl\\\', with route no. 1838982; a nature walk of approx. 5.4 km.