Around Tilburg 3: NNW (Leikeven, Efteling, De Moer)

We start our tour through the Reeshofpark in an easterly direction, past the De Heyhoeve shopping center, where you have the opportunity to eat or drink something. From there it goes through a forest area, until we turn to the north.

We cross the Wilhelmina Canal, and briefly follow the Burgemeester Baron van Voorst to Voorstweg, until we bend to the east. We drive through the Mastbos , and a little later we go through a tunnel under the Burgemeester Letschertweg.

We now drive past the former waste dump of Tilburg, of which only a large hilly area is left on your left today. You will see the water treatment plant on your right. The corresponding flow fields used to be here, but they are no longer used for this.

A little later we turn left onto a path that is unpaved, but which is nevertheless good for cycling. This path takes us between heathland and fens to a lookout tower, from where you can see the Leikeven in the distance on the left. To your left in the grassland are dozens of Scottish Highlanders. Natuurmonumenten has mapped out a walking route around the Leikeven, which you can easily walk in under an hour.

From the lookout tower we continue in a northerly direction through the woods, until we reach a tarmac road again. The rest of the route no longer contains a dirt road. If you want to avoid the dirt road, where the dirt part started, you can follow the paved road to the left. This will shorten your route by approximately one kilometer.

A little further on we turn right in the hamlet of Kraanven, into a typical Brabant road: a combination of habitation, arable land and forest. We arrive at the main road from Tilburg to Waalwijk, which we cross over a new viaduct to a forest area belonging to the Loonse en Drunense Duinen. We will not visit the dunes with this route.

We drive through these woods for a while and then cross the highway again with the Eftelingsestraat. We arrive at the Efteling (on your right) and the associated bungalow park Bosrijk and Villa Pardoes (on your left). We briefly touch the built-up area of Kaatsheuvel. This is the furthest point of our route: we are about halfway there.

We now head west past the Efteling Golf Park, through the arable land in the direction of Dongen. At the Vaartweg, however, we turn left again. On your right you will find here for the children  Pukkemuk , including (not free) a large playground, a farmer's fairytale forest, and a water playground and a restaurant.

Via the village of De Moer (here you will find a war memorial and a cafe-restaurant) we slowly head south again. Passing the Cola factory (not open to the public) and Logis Auberge De Moerse Hoeve , we return to the built-up area of Tilburg. We cross the Vossenberg industrial estate straight on, and we take the bicycle bridge over the Wilhelmina Canal back to the Reeshof.

From here we follow a cycle path back to Tilburg Reeshof station , passing De Kievitshoeve , an old tavern, at the intersection with Langendijk. This tavern used to be called Peerke Stoak . There is a free playground for children.