Schaijk, Oss

Start your cycle route in Schojk, as you pronounce Schaijk in dialect. The name used to be spelled Scaeywijc, Scadewic or Schadewijk. The word means settlement. You first bike through the village toward the Herperduin nature reserve, where a spectacular view awaits you from the observation tower. The area is about 400 acres. It used to be a heathland, shifting sand and agricultural area. From the 19th century it was planted with Scots pine to capture the drifting sand and provide mine timber. Now you find beautiful forests, drifting sand remnants and some ponds. If you're lucky you'll spot an Exmoor pony, Tauros or badger in the wild.

Continue your route through the forests to the town of Oss. The city is surrounded by different landscapes such as woods, meadows, hills and dry sandy soils. In the past, Oss was the capital of the Kwartier van Maasland. Although few relics of the past have been preserved, a few monuments can still be found. For example, the royal tomb was discovered in 1933 and the nearby pile tombs in 2007. The burial mounds come from the Bronze Age and early Iron Age. Today they are separated by highways, but once they formed a larger entity. The Vorstengraf is the largest burial mound in the Netherlands.

During this cycle route you can enjoy the charming village of Schaijk, the green town of Oss and the historical monuments you will encounter along the way. Perfect for a day out!

Parking tip: There is plenty of parking in the center of Schaijk, near De Potter.