Tour of Riel, Alphen and Bels Lijntje

Your route starts at the Nieuwkerkse Hoeve, on the Nieuwkerk Estate. Here are some beautiful farms and a beautiful monastery, in the middle of the forest. This cycling tour runs through the green border area between Breda and Tilburg. The extensive and dense forests here used to offer sufficient opportunities to cross the border unnoticed. The Chaamse Bossen used to be a rugged area with sand drifts and wet heath, but it was reclaimed between 1900 and 1935. Fens were drained, grassland emerged and Scots pines were planted. At Alphen and Riel you will encounter the Bels Lijntje, a cycle path over a former railway connection between Tilburg and Belgium. Step off to soak up the atmosphere in the enclave village of Baarle-Nassau, where the border criss-crosses through the village!