No better preserved piece of nature to walk in than a military domain where tanks and shooters rarely practice. In North Brabant, just over the border, you have such a special place.

In the triangle between Roosendaal, Rucphen and the charming village of Schijf lie the Rucphense Woods, a large area of old drifting sand with plenty of coniferous forest and a patch of open landscape with heath and grassland. And yes, while it may be an official military training area, the Dutch defense is subject to strict regulations. Soldiers can play hide and seek, but all-terrain vehicles and other rolling stock must remain on the paths. This way, nature with its field crickets and brown oak butterflies remains intact. Don't worry, kakhi-green uniforms are rarely seen here. Walkers, riders, cyclists, and mountain bikers have plenty of space on well-maintained paths. To complete the picture, there are now hectares of flower meadows around the woods with endangered field herbs like corn salad and pale yellow hemp-nettle. This Flower Power project is also expected to attract more insect and butterfly species.

Start at the parking lot at the intersection of Nederheidsebaan and Antwerpsebaan in Schijf, a district of Rucphen (GPS 51.50213, 4.52617). (V)  

With the parking lot behind you, continue straight on the sandy path. At the end of that sandy road, turn right onto the woodland path and at the next intersection continue right along the forest path. At the T-junction, turn left again onto a sandy path through the forest. At a hardened gravel road with a bicycle path in red asphalt, turn right onto the shooting range. Bend right along bungalow park De Oliepot (1). At the parking lot of that bungalow park, continue right towards 't Ossekopke (2). Further straight on the sandy path left next to the bike path. At the fork, turn left onto the sandy path (the bike path goes right here), the Kromme Elleboog. At the house with a thatched roof, turn right, briefly following the red and white markers. You pass a flower meadow (3) under construction for the Flower Power project. At the intersection – just before the mountain bike path and the sign for Commissarisbos, turn right. At the intersection, go straight into the Quiet Area (4) and bend right. At the height of walking junction 4, turn left. You can choose between the asphalt strip or the parallel sandy path through this beautiful area of heathland with some weathered Scots pines here and there. At the edge of the forest with benches and a bike rack (5), turn right. At the intersection of roads, turn left, noting the yellow and white marker on a tree trunk to your left. Further on, you enter the Water Extraction Area of Schijf (6). At the T-junction, turn right and about 50 meters further immediately turn left. Where the sandy path bends to the right, continue straight until you reach your starting point.