Tour of Gilze, Rijen and Tilburg

You can take a cycling tour through nature between Breda and Tilburg. First you drive over the Bels Lijntje: the former railway route between Tilburg and Turnhout. At Riel you go west. You enter the Chaamse Bossen via Gilze. This was once a rugged area with sand drifts and wet heath, but the area was reclaimed between 1900 and 1935. Further on you drive through two contiguous forests: the Prinsenbos and Sint-Annabos. It is wonderful to cycle here along stately avenues past old deciduous trees. You drive a bit through the woods past Gilze-Rijen Airport, passing through the village of Rijen in between. Finally, you cycle through the Reeshof and the Reeshofbos. The route ends on the cozy terrace of Uitspanning De Zeven Geitjes. Time for a snack and a drink.