Chaam Forest Trade Route: Traveling Traders | Stories at the Border

Begin this 48km route at the lively Ginnekenmarktje market square in Breda and prepare for a journey through beautiful nature. Stop for a break in Alphen or Chaam. Continue your route through the charming countryside of Grensland de Baronie and let the Mark River guide you through the idyllic Markdal valley. This route recounts the story of the traders. Learn more about the robbers on this historic trade route by viewing the route here .

Discover the story of the traders

The bike ride you're about to take will take you along a path now called Fietsallee. The Maastrichtse Baan, a trade route between Breda and Maastricht, once ran along this dirt road, sometimes as wide as a kilometer. The route was both famous and infamous. Want to join us?

October 1646 - Traveling salesman Johannes brushes a long gray lock from his face. His hair is wet from the rain, and the wind is blowing hard. It promises to be a tough journey, all the way from Breda to Maastricht. He sets off today with his son Arthur. They are bringing a horse-drawn cart full of sugar, cheese, herring, wood, cotton, and ammunition. The cart also contains spices such as nutmeg, pepper, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. Johannes has no use for these strange flavors. But he does know that these spices are worth their weight in gold. He makes a tidy profit from buying and selling them.

Johannes and Arthur depart from the Ginnekenmarkt in Breda, heading south along the dirt road. They cross the Duivelsbrug (Duck Bridge) and pass the Mark: the river over which their goods had just been shipped from Holland by boat.

The journey is quite a slog today. It's been raining non-stop for weeks, and the muddy ruts on the path are getting deeper and deeper. Moreover, the route is busy. Johannes is glad Arthur is with them. They're not riding in a convoy today. They couldn't arrange it with the other traders. But the produce must move on. Spoilage and an unpleasant odor are lurking, especially with the fish and cheese on their cart.

There are plenty of dangers for the traders along the way. For instance, the infamous Adriaan van Campen roams around here. Van Campen primarily targets farmers in the Bavel area. He extorts them. And if they refuse, he violently bangs on the doors and windows of each farm, shouting, "Open up, we're here!" Adriaan is alone, but by using the plural, he scares the farmer of his life. Okay, so for now, he's only targeting farmers. But Johannes and Arthur also prefer not to come near him.

Johannes knows this route like the back of his hand by now; that's his secret strength. He knows it can be especially dangerous near the Eiken Mik. The road there is worse than elsewhere. The infamous Alphen Gang has been exploiting this for several years by ambushing weary travelers at this very point. Johannes has a solution. At the beginning of the trade route, the 'Haeneveren' join them. These mercenaries protect the travelers from robber bands like the Zwartmakers. You can recognize them by the rooster feather on their hats. Johannes knows the foreman well. And for a friendly price, he and his troop are happy to walk a short distance with the two traveling merchants.

Then they have to navigate those damned streams near Chaam. You can't avoid them, literally. And that means Arthur and Johannes will soon have to search for the lowest point with a horse and cart in the pouring rain. That's going to be quite a challenge. Especially with that heavy load on board.

Johannes thinks back to the time when a connector between the cart and a wheel broke. He couldn't go any further. There he stood, near the so-called Geuzenpad (Geuzen's Path). But then, as if sent by the Lord himself, a group of churchgoers appeared on the path, led by a minister. They were on their way from Chaam to Gilze. With a combined effort, the group lifted the heavy cart, and Johannes crawled under the cart to fix the connector. What a stroke of luck! Hopefully, he and Arthur won't have another breakdown this time, Johannes thinks.

Today, father and son travel to the Hooikar Inn, near Alphen. A pleasant first stop on their long journey. Along the way, they'll need to be careful. The area they're traveling through consists mainly of sand and heathland, with no shelter. And the driving rain and strong wind make it impossible to see far ahead. If a band of robbers is waiting, they'll certainly see it too late.

Far in the distance, the Eiken Mik looms. Will Johannes and Arthur manage to arrive at De Hooikar unscathed with their precious goods? Cycle from Breda to Alphen and retrace their steps.

Stories at the Border

Stories at the Border routes uniquely showcase the diversity of the province of Brabant. Brabant lies on the border between the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as between the provinces of Limburg, Zeeland, South Holland, and Gelderland. The border has a rich history, with stories of smuggling, closed borders, and borderless collaboration. It's no wonder this border has always played a significant role in the lives of Brabant residents. Experience routes developed within this theme showcase the story surrounding the Brabant border and the province's limitless character. View them all at visitbrabant.com/verhalenaandegrens .

Borderland De Baronie, wonderful natural area

Grensland De Baronie is the green heart between Breda, Tilburg, and the Belgian border. This region used to be the "playground of the nobility," who enjoyed their estates here. Now it's a region where you can take a breather. In the immense greenery of nature. And with our people, who welcome you with open arms. By bike, on foot, or on horseback, you'll discover places you've never seen before. And marvel at the fascinating history of this area. Grensland De Baronie is a wonderful natural landscape where you can get lost in unique stories.