Duizel, Wintelre, Knegsel

This cycle route takes you through three special villages: Duizel, Wintelre and Knegsel.

Knegsel is mentioned in documents dating back to 1281, but there are so many burial mounds and urn fields in the area that many people must have lived here in prehistoric times. These sites are listed in the national register of monuments as archaeological monuments. The village was heavily plundered by French troops in the 17th century, resulting in the village being rebuilt slightly more to the east.

Many burial mounds and urn fields have also been found in Wintelre which prove that people lived here in prehistoric times. Wintelre has achieved two world records thanks to the efforts of almost all its inhabitants: in the Guinness Book of Records they are listed with the longest clothesline (in 2000, the clothesline was 24,741 metres long) and the longest balloon line in the world (in 2010, a 5,040 metre line with 56,400 balloons).

There are writings from 1026 where Duizel is mentioned for the first time, then under the name 'Duselam'. Because of the beautiful nature around the village, many nobles came to Duizel in the Middle Ages. The village used to have a castle, but unfortunately this has not been preserved. Since the 17th century, the so-called Sint Janstrossen (bouquets of flowers) were hung above the front doors every year on 24 June, in honour of the birthday of Saint John the Baptist. The bouquets consisted of, among other things, St. John's wort and cornflowers. The bunches were supposed to ensure a good harvest and protection against lightning and diseases. Since 1996, this tradition has been lifted and the local guild holds an annual open-air mass on 24 June.

Let yourself be surprised by these three special villages in Brabant, each with their own story.