The 9 Wonders of Oudenbosch walking route

This 2.5 kilometer city walk takes you past the 9 Oudenbossche Wonders of Roman grandeur. Start at the impressive Basilica and be surprised by what else Willem Hellemons wants to show you of Oudenbosch. Discover the hidden square of Saint Louis and imagine yourself on St. Peter's Square or enjoy the greenery in the Botanical Garden Arboretum. Discover more about Oudenbosch and visit the connecting museums along the route. End your walk at one of the cozy cafes and restaurants on Jan Gielenplein, Markt or Jezuietenplein. View the full route and all sights at visitbrabant.com/9wonderen.

\\\"A parish of my own. Yes, that seems like something to me. Pleasant. Willem is the name. Willem Hellemons. I have just returned from Rome, where I was an apprentice with the Order of the Cistercians for four years. And yes, from what I saw there, my heart beat a lot faster. And that's our own parish, that's Oudenbosch. After all, history shows that even ever arrived by carriage?\\\"

32 years old, and brand new pastor of Oudenbosch. Proud as a peacock, that is Hellemons. Oudenbosch is familiar territory to him: his birthplace Roosendaal is located about ten kilometers southwest. In front of the mirror in his room on a cold Monday morning, he slides his arms into the sleeves of his black cassock for the first time. He painstakingly buttons the shirt and brushes a piece of lint from his chest. With two fingers he arranges his recognizable white pastor's collar. Then he rolls up his sleeves: work to be done!

"I'm building a new church for this village. And not just any one. No, this church will be a direct copy of my much-loved St. Peter's Basilica in Rome!\\\" Hellemons rubs his hands."A large dome, with a modest neoclassical porch... yes, I can picture it that way\\\", he daydreams, while walking through the streets of Oudenbos.

Oudenbosch quickly became close to Hellemons' heart. Not only a church should be built here, he notes. More is needed here."Oudenbosch has always been a place of traders and entrepreneurs - yet people are having a hard time.\\\" When he looks around him, he thinks:"That has to change.\\\" Because he knows : this village has much more to offer. Since the St. Elizabeth's Flood (a major flood disaster more than six hundred years ago), Oudenbosch has been located very strategically on the sailing route, with an inland sea and ferry between Dordrecht and Oudenbosch. There were no bridges over the major rivers in Hellemon's time."You see: all roads lead to Oudenbosch - even over water.\\\"

"Training and education: that is what we must offer young people! That ultimately lifts the entire village.\\\" With these words, the plans for the Saint Louis and Sint Anna Institute were born."And yes\\\", Hellemons continues to muse,"of course we give the architecture of that building and the associated schoolyard that typical Roman allure.\\\"

Hellemons knows well that his plans for Catholic education in Oudenbosch are not new. About ten years before he took office as pastor, the Jesuits already founded a Latin college here. Special detail: this Jesuit house also contains a star observatory."High time to expand that fertile ground for education to ordinary boys and men.\\\"

Great plans don't just happen. Hellemons likes to take time for contemplation and prayer. Sometimes he does this inside, in the old St. Agatha Church - after all, his own basilica is still under construction or in the parsonage. But his thoughts are also given plenty of space outside. In the parsonage garden (now Jan Gielenplein) or in the monastery garden of the brothers of Saint Louis (now Arboretum), for example."But I also like to sit on a bench with a view over the harbor. This is a place where I can see, smell, yes, even taste the entrepreneurial spirit of Oudenbosch. See there, those old facades, peat shipping, trade, fishing , sugar beet cultivation and a beer brewery. The inspiration for new plans is in the air here!\\\"

Together with Hellemons we are taking a step forward in time. The plans for his basilica are making further progress: the start of construction is almost in sight. As a pastor, he will of course be present at the festive opening of the new train station. The second station in the Netherlands, opened because of Oudenbosch's strategic location between Antwerp and Rotterdam."The railways now also lead to Oudenbosch!\\\"

The arrival of the station is very good news."Children from all over the country now come to Oudenbosch for the excellent education at Saint Louis.\\\" The institute is growing rapidly, and soon Oudenbosch is populated by children who receive lessons there."The local economy also benefits\\\," Hellemons notes with satisfaction. There is now also a girls' school, founded at the insistence of Hellemons by the sisters of Sint-Anna. Hellemons also uses the fact that there is now a station to establish Oudenbosch as a Dutch gathering place for the Papal Zouaves before they go to war to defend his beloved Papal State (later Vatican City). These are the soldiers for the Pope - the heroes of Catholic life.

Hellemons was able to enjoy his life's work - Basilica of Saints Agatha and Barbara in full - for just four years before he died. Oudenbosch now has two cemeteries for clergy: one for brothers and one for sisters. But Hellemons is not there. He rests under the smoke of his basilica, in the old cemetery. Just as he would have wanted. Would you like to explore the Oudenbosch of Hellemons up close? Stroll through the village and discover its history in nine special wonders and six fascinating pearls.

Monastery routes in Brabant

Brabant invites you to relax and be amazed. Various short and longer routes take you through the rich Brabant monastic life of then and now. View all routes via visitbrabant.com/kloosterroutes .

About this route

This walking route was created by VisitBrabant Routebureau. The route has been plotted via the Brabant walking junction system. Simply walk from one numbered junction to another. Arrows show you the way between the nodes. Is something wrong with the route signage? Please let us know via visitbrabant.com/meldpunt . You can also call 0800-4050050 (free).