The Holy Oak hiking trail

Walk through the fairytale-like area where a babbling river carried along a mysterious statue of the Virgin Mary.

Impossible! A statue of the Virgin Mary floating upstream in the Kleine Beerze? That is strange enough. But that the statue miraculously disappears from the church in Oirschot and reappears in an old, hollow oak? That really takes the cake. Yet it happened here, in this area, according to a myth that has been passed down from person to person here for centuries. The Holy Oak has been felled; roughly in the same spot, you will find a magnificent white chapel that commemorates this folk tale. A replica of the statue of the Virgin Mary can be found in that chapel; the original stands in the St. Peter's Basilica in Oirschot. Or... could it still be there?

The Kleine Beerze has always been there. But the people who worked, lived, and passed through this river changed. With this walking route, you wander 9 kilometers through the fairytale-like area around the Kleine and Grote Beerze near Oirschot. The long avenues, the dense forests, and the vast grasslands: something magical could easily happen here.

Do you hear the cracking of branches? Perhaps it is a roe deer, a squirrel, or one of the many birds in this area. At the drawbridge, you cross the canal: this is the territory of the Holy Oak. Step over the threshold of the Chapel of the Holy Oak and feel free to light a candle. Do you see Mary? After a moment of rest and reflection, you continue your walk through woods, along and across the meandering Kleine Beerze, through greenery, and every now and then past a farm. And as you walk there, you can easily imagine that the most beautiful stories originated in a place like this. With a head full of inspiration, you return to the starting point.

For a good cup of coffee and a visit to the impressive St. Peter's Basilica, a detour via the equally fairytale-like Oirschot—before or after your walk—is well worth the effort.

Kleine Beerze: Stream valley full of stories

For more than 10,000 years, the Kleine Beerze has attracted passers-by who stay there for shorter or longer periods. Hunter-gatherers, Romans, gnomes, pilgrims, plunderers, peddlers and – nowadays – walkers.

Where there are people, stories come to life. Let yourself be carried along the enchanting stream valley of the Kleine Beerze via five walking loops. Discover myths meant to explain supernatural phenomena. And mysteries that have not yet been solved.

Mysterious Miracle of Mary

It is the year 1406. A shepherd cannot believe his eyes: a statue of the Virgin Mary is floating upstream in the Kleine Beerze! He retrieves the statue from the water and places it in a hollow oak. A villager considers this an unsuitable spot and takes the statue to the church in Oirschot. But the next day, the statue has disappeared and mysteriously returned to the hollow of the oak. The villagers see this as a supernatural sign to build a Marian chapel on the site of the sacred oak. The chapel becomes a popular pilgrimage site.

Follow the route along the water where the statue once floated upstream.

Experience exciting regional stories in Brabant

In Brabant, sagas and legends live on. Beautiful routes lead you past the most impressive spots where regional stories come to life. There are 5 routes centered around the myths and mysteries of the Kleine Beerze, the Holy Oak , the Mysterious Coin Hoard , the Beerse Strijkster , Steengoede Sporen , and the Roman burial mound . Do you dare to join a journey of discovery through Brabant with these Sagas & Legends routes? View all routes here .