Bosschenhoofd, Oudenbosch, Hoeven

The Catholic faith has had a major influence on Brabant society for centuries. Take Vincent van Gogh, for example, perhaps the most famous Brabander in the world. He devoted himself to the Catholic Church for many years and wanted to become a preacher, just like his father. He did not succeed in this and so he became a painter instead. During his career he painted several Brabant churches. But the monuments you will pass on this Cycle route also have Catholic origins.

Oudenbosch is a village with many monumental buildings. In one street alone you will see an old post office, the former St Anne's monastery, the Collegium Berchmanianum and the old town hall (now the Zouavenmuseum). But did you also know that Oudenbosch can also be called the Vatican of Brabant? The enormous Basilica of St Agatha and St Barbara Agatha and Barbara is a replica of St Peter's Basilica in Rome. Willem Hellemons, a young priest who studied in Rome, took the initiative for the design. The church had to be built according to his design! He also designed the Chapel of Saint Louis. This chapel with its characteristic dome is part of Hellemons' former boarding school.

Bosschenhoofd is also known as Seppe. This nickname has a surprising origin! At the former Maple Farm crossroads stood an old farm that was used as an inn by Jacobus Sep around 1847. The railway line between Breda and Roosendaal was built between 1854 and 1855. The railway workers would eat and spend the night at Jacobus Sep's inn, at Seppe, while they worked. Because the railway company was not familiar with the place name Bosschenhoofd, the train stop in the village was named ‘Stopplaats Seppe’. That is how Bosschenhoofd came to be known as ‘Seppe’ in the Netherlands.

One hundred years later, Seppe Airport was built at the Maple Farm intersection. Restaurant De Cockpit is run by the family that also owned the Maple Farm inn. In the restaurant they commemorate the inn by naming a number of dishes on the menu after Maple Farm.

Not far from Seppe airport you will find Albert Tielens' dream garden: a fantastic garden with classical elements, ponds and a large variety of trees, bushes and flowers arranged in dynamic forms. The gardens are not open to the public, but if you have the opportunity it is breathtaking.