You are at the beginning of a beautiful route of 17.6 km along three watermills and the site where one once stood. At the end of the route, you will reach Eindhoven, where the path transitions into the city through a beautiful park. Even here, a watermill can be found. Get started!

The Dommel Path
The Dommel Path takes you over a distance of 125 kilometers from Peer to ’s-Hertogenbosch and back. With this 6-day hiking route averaging 20 kilometers per day, you will follow the history of the watermills flowing from south to north. And upstream from north to south, the history of nature along the Dommel. You can find the entire Dommel Path at visitbrabant.com/dommelpad.

The Pearls of the Dommel
A hundred years ago, there were more than fifty watermills in the catchment area of the Dommel river. From the source in Peer to the mouth in Den Bosch, the mills did their work. The water flowed, the mills turned, and with the energy generated, grain was ground into flour, oil was pressed from rapeseed, or pulp was obtained from oak bark. This pulp was used in tanning leather. By following this hiking trail along the Dommel, you can see with your own eyes what remains of the watermills of yesteryear. Moreover, the Dommel winds through a beautiful piece of Belgium and the Netherlands. Boundlessly beautiful!

Crossing Points
The mills were often built at narrow points in the river where the gradient was a bit steeper. The water of the Dommel flowed there with force, allowing the watermills to turn effectively. Additionally, as the mills formed a sort of dam in the water, they were also suitable places where people could cross the river.

String of Pearls
To work effectively, the watermills of a century ago could not be too close together. Therefore, old maps show that the mills formed a sort of string of pearls along the banks of the river. For a long time, the mills were our only major energy providers and were therefore of great importance to the economy of that time. Because of this, they often belonged to fortified farms, castles, or defensive structures.

Impact on the Landscape
Since the water was dammed at the mills, the area upstream became wetter. This influence sometimes extended up to two kilometers. Over the years, these dammed areas developed into “watermill landscapes” with wet, peaty soils and the corresponding vegetation that can still be seen today. Ready to see all this? Let's go!

The Groote Heide
The Dommel Path runs through the Groote Heide, a diverse nature border park of six thousand hectares, stretching from Eindhoven in the Netherlands to Pelt in Belgium. The landscape along the Dommel has been shaped by a string of watermills that dam the water. Discover the regional stories and all the beauty this border region has to offer at degrooteheide.eu.

About this Route
The Dommel Path is signposted through the hiking junction system in Brabant and Belgium/Flanders. Follow the signs and simply hike from one numbered junction to another. Arrows will show you the way to your chosen number. Is something wrong with the route signage? Let us know through visitbrabant.com/meldpunt. You can also call for free at 0800-4050050.