Vincent van Gogh, one of the most famous artists in the world, was born and raised in Brabant (Zundert, 1853). Although Vincent was a great lover of nature and the Brabant countryside, he also loved the dynamics and temptations of the big city. Paris, for example, he found magnificent. Breda (Princenhage) visited Vincent at a younger age.

This Van Gogh cycle route takes you past the Van Gogh highlights in and around Breda and Tilburg. Breda has three Van Gogh Monuments: the Grote Kerk on the Markt, Huize Mertersem and the cemetery on the Haagweg in the Princenhage district.

The picturesque Haagsemarkt in Princenhage, a district of Breda, is the starting point of this route. Vincent van Gogh came here regularly. He visited his 'Uncle Cent', who had a great reputation in the art trade. 'Uncle Cent' lived for a long time in a beautiful villa, called 'Huize Mertersem'. Here he had a large collection of paintings, which Vincent loved.

"Last night I was with Uncle Vincent to tell him I had gone to Dordt, it was a stormy evening, you can imagine how beautiful that road to Prinsenhage was with the dark clouds with their silver edges. I also went to the Roman church where there was evening service, it was a beautiful sight, all those peasants and the peasant women with their black clothes and white hats, and the church looked so friendly in the evening light."

Vincent van Gogh in a letter to his brother Theo, Etten, 31 December 1876

Cycle a bit to...
Please note: not all sights are located directly on this cycle route. You have to deviate a bit from the route for:

• Van Gogh mural

How does the Van Gogh cycle route work?
The Van Gogh cycle route is set out via the Brabant junction system. Under each junction sign you will find a Van Gogh cycle route sign. Simply follow the Van Gogh cycle route signs from one numbered junction to another. Between the nodes you follow the signage of the junction system.

Cycle route app
Tip: cycle this route with the Fietsroute app from Fietsnetwerk. Put the app on your mobile phone and open the 'Van Gogh cycle route Breda'. The app guides you along the cycle route. Along the way, see drawings, paintings, and read about Vincent's life. Download the Cycle Route app for free in the App Store or Play Store.

Routes hotline
Is there something wrong with the signage or the route? Report this via the Brabant Node Routes Hotline. You can also call 0800-4050050 (toll-free).