Smuggling route De Groote Heide| Stories at the Border

With this 44-kilometre cycle route, you will discover the De Groote Heide nature reserve. The route takes you across the border and lets you experience the story of a commies (customs officer) or a smuggler in the 30s.

It is a varied route where you have a nice connection between city, country, the Netherlands and Belgium. You will cross unspoiled nature and pass cozy villages that are known for their smuggling past. Discover the game of cat and mouse in the border area of De Groote Heide and follow in the footsteps of the smuggler or the commies with this cycle route of about 44 kilometres.

Get off and discover...
Complete your cycling adventure and be surprised by special products, promotions and packages related to this route at various entrepreneurs along the route.

Smuggler's box from Borrelbar KikkerOp and Brasserie De Kapetulie: a box with five different beers.

Mamma Mia smuggled ice cream: mascarpone ice cream with stewed pears, stroopwafel and caramel. Ice cream with a nod to butter and sugar smuggling.

Smugglers' beer from Stoombierbrouwerij De Pimpelier: specially developed for the launch of the Smuggling Route.

Smuggler's pastry from 't Kluutje, together with Bakkerij Rooymans: a delicious chocolate ball filled with coffee mousse.

Smuggling liqueur from Fruitbedrijf Jan Janssen and candy shop 't Kluutje: a liqueur based on blueberries and a liqueur with the taste of butter babbelaar.

Smuggling tea from Het Zuyderblad: specially developed for the launch of the Smuggling Route.

About this route
This cycle route was created by VisitBrabant Routebureau. The route is set out via the Brabant cycle junction system. Simply cycle from one numbered junction to another. Arrows show you the way between the nodes. Is there something wrong with the signposting of the route? Please let us know via visitbrabant.com/meldpunt. You can also call 0800-4050050 (free of charge).

Roadmap
View this route page on your phone or download the GPX file. Do you want to go out with a paper map? A route brochure is available for this theme route, download it here. The route brochures are also available at the tourist office in Cranendonck and the tourist office in Hamont-Achel, among others.

Stories at the Border
Stories on the Border shows the versatility of the province of Brabant in a unique way. Brabant is located on the border of the Netherlands and Belgium as well as between the provinces of Limburg, Zeeland, South Holland and Gelderland. The border has a rich history with stories of smuggling, closed borders and borderless collaborations. It is not for nothing that this border has always played an important role in the life of the people of Brabant. Experience routes that have been developed within this theme show the story around the Brabant border and the unlimited character of the province. Check them all out via visitbrabant.com/verhalenaandegrens.

About the Groote Heide
Discover the Groote Heide; a unique cross-border area in Cranendonck, Eindhoven, Heeze-Leende, Valkenswaard, Hamont-Achel and Neerpelt. The cross-border area of De Groote Heide is a top area within North Brabant for nature, tourism and recreation. With 6000 hectares of contiguous nature reserves with deep purple heather, fresh green forests, streams, rivers and fens, but also many special cultural-historical (dis)views make De Groote Heide a unique environment.