Vrolijk Jager and Strabrechtse Heide: strade bianche

Last updated: October 27, 2018. The village center of Heeze no longer has to be crossed by including the new unpaved cycle path between Rul and the Boschlaan in the route (this cycle path has been ready since the beginning of October 2018).

From the parking lot at the Keelven, you leave for a route that is 49% on unpaved roads and unpaved cycle paths that are easy to cycle with the road bike (good anti-puncture tires such as the Continental four-season tires or Schwalbe Marathon Plus and at least 25 mm wide tires are recommended).

First you cycle along the Keelven on partly unpaved cycle paths towards golf course De Swinkelsche and past windmill Den Evert.Then you go on paved roads to Lierop and to the hamlet of Moorsel. Just before the hamlet of Moorsel you change back to unpaved cycle paths across the Strabrechtse Heide and you pass many fens (typical for this area). A cycle path (with grey road surface) takes you through the woods to the vicinity of Heeze Castle. Eventually you arrive at the concrete cycle path along the Provincial road Heeze - Someren.

After a few kilometers you go into the woods towards Sterksel on partly unpaved roads, and later towards nature reserve de Vrolijke Jager. Via unpaved roads and cycle paths you cycle along the Vroolijke Jager. Then you cycle on asphalted roads to nature reserve het Keelven (Somerensche Heide). Via largely paved cycle paths you cycle around the Keelveen (the other side than at the beginning of the route). Very briefly you follow the concrete cycle path along the road Heeze - Someren and then dive back into the Strabrechtse Heide on unpaved cycle paths. You cycle along the largest fen in the Netherlands (the Beuven). In the end, you largely go back to the starting point via paved roads.

A longer variant of this route (length 92 km) can be found on Strade Bianche through Weerterbos, Vroolijke Jager, Keelven and Strabrechtse Heide.