Strolling through the Chaamse forests and 'T Zand

Starting point https://www.route.nl/wandelroute/585896/struinen-door-de-bossen-van-alphen-en-chaam with adjustments

Alphen-Chaam is richly endowed with forest. Between 1100 and 1648 this area was part of the powerful Duchy of Brabant. The Nassau family often used the vast forests as hunting grounds. In the Alphense forests lies recreation area 't Zand, a hilly area with mainly coniferous trees. The recreational lake is a popular place for recreation on beautiful days. The Alphense mountains used to consist mainly of coniferous trees, which grew on the drifting sand. The pines were planted at the end of the 19th century to protect the villages from the sand drifts. But also to plant the moors.

't Zand is a hamlet in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the east of the municipality, one kilometer north of the village of Alphen. I walked this walk on November 11, 2020 and recorded it with GPS! Parked in parking on the Alphenseweg a little past the exit of Camping De Flaasbloem (turn left when you come from Chaam at the yellow columns where the cycle path crosses with the Alphenseweg) And Horeca on the way in Alphen. FUSILLADE PLACE : In farms on the Chaamseweg, people in hiding were offered shelter during the war.
When this was discovered by the Germans, arrests would follow. However, the wanted were no longer present.
As revenge, two farmers from the area, Antoon Oomen and Felix Roelen and also the hider Willie van de Corput were brought before the firing squad.
Felix Roelen was left for dead but miraculously survived. Ulicotense Baan after 7.3 km, This path is also called the "Brokkepadje" after the residents on this path. The Ulicotense Baan is also an old pilgrimage path to Saint Bernard in Ulicoten. http://www.toerismealphen-chaam.nl/struinen-door-de-bossen/