With this 28-kilometer bike route, you will discover Nellie's smuggling past. The route starts in the cozy center of Luyksgestel and takes you along the highest natural point of North Brabant before crossing the border and the canal towards the Belgian city of Lommel. Then try to cross the border back unseen along the customs officer's house and ride into the smuggling path to outsmart the customs officers. Be careful of the crow’s foot in the center of Luyksgestel and finish your bike ride with a delicious snack and drink on the terrace.

Nellie from Luyksgestel looks back on her smuggling past. She started at a young age innocently smuggling packages of butter to earn a candy. But at a later age, smuggling products became a necessity for daily upkeep. Together with her brother Toon and his friends, Nellie devised several plans to get butter and cigarettes across the border. For her brother Toon, this was not enough. He decided to independently get a calf across the border but got caught and had to spend a few weeks in prison. Nellie definitely did not want this to happen again and from that moment on made sure she would be the one to create the plan. But is it still so innocent? Or is it getting worse? Read the full route story and hop on your bike!

Stories at the Border
Stories at the Border routes uniquely showcase the diversity of the province of Brabant. Brabant is located both on the border of the Netherlands and Belgium and between the provinces of Limburg, Zeeland, South Holland, and Gelderland. The border has a rich history with stories about smuggling, closed borders, and limitless collaborations. It is no coincidence that this border has always played an important role in the lives of the people of Brabant. Experience routes developed within this theme tell the story around the Brabant border and the boundless character of the province. Check them all out at visitbrabant.com/verhalenaandegrens.

Visit Luyksgestel and Bergeijk
The Village Council of Luyksgestel was established in 1999 with the aim of improving livability in the village. The village council is committed to various cultural activities. The Smuggling Route Luyksgestel is an initiative of the Village Council of Luyksgestel in collaboration with the Municipality of Bergeijk. In Luyksgestel and Lommel, there are various monuments and places that commemorate the smuggling past. Want to discover more in Bergeijk and the surrounding area? Visit visitbergeijk.nl.

About this route
This bike route was created by VisitBrabant Route Bureau. The route is laid out via the Brabant bike junction system. Simply cycle from one numbered junction to another. Arrows guide you between the junctions. Is there something wrong with the signage of the route? Let us know via visitbrabant.com/meldpunt. You can also call 0800-4050050 (free).