Circular walk Chaam

In the southeast of Breda, between the villages of Chaam and Alphen, lie the beautiful Chaamse forests, through which you walk during this hike. Particularly beautiful places are the paradisiacal Putven and the former agricultural enclave of Ossengoor.

The forests of Breda are mostly associated with the word Barony. The fief De Baronie of Breda was part of the Duchy of Brabant, a large and powerful duchy from 1100 to 1648. Its borders extended far into Belgium. The Barony looks well-maintained, which is mainly due to the Nassau family. This family shaped the landscape through the systematic afforestation of large forest areas. Today, most forests belong to Staatsbosbeheer.

The village of Chaam, known from the annual cycling event "de Acht van Chaam," is a Protestant enclave amid the Roman Catholic Brabant. The closer you get to Alphen, the younger the trees become. The forest area of Chaam mainly consists of coniferous trees. As soon as you leave the edge of the forest, the beautiful bell tower of Alphen appears before you. The tower has been restored in its original Kempen late Gothic style after it collapsed in 1944 due to war violence.

As in many other places in the Netherlands, the North Brabant brook landscape - which is perhaps the most beautiful around Chaam - is being restored to its former glory. The Chaamse brooks are part of the catchment area of the river Mark. Due to poor water quality, they were declared an ecologically protected area by six institutions in 1991.

In the area of the Chaamse brook system, the natural and landscape values of the brooks and their surroundings have been significantly improved. For instance, a wastewater treatment plant was adapted, and overflows were renovated. Sections of the brook were also equipped with 'natural meanders' and fish passages.