Astense Aa – from Helmond to Leensel

(Click on the bold words for more information, not available via the app, but available via the website.)
This walking route is part of a series of hikes, of which two routes go from A to B and from B to C, and four loop-shaped routes that overlap with the first two.

Astense Aa - from Helmond to Leensel
Astense Aa - from Leensel to the Peel

AstenseAa1 Helmond-Vlierden   (coming soon)
AstenseAa2 Vlierden-Liessel    (coming soon)
AstenseAa3 Liessel-Neerkant (coming soon)
AstenseAa4 Neerkant-Meijel    (coming soon)

The Astense Aa flows from the Elevated Peel to the Aa between covering sand hills and low land dunes that slope northwest. This cover sand landscape was formed in the last ice age (approximately 116,000 to 11,700 years ago).

The upper reaches of the Astense Aa have undergone a different development than the lower reaches.
From the Full Middle Ages (11th – 13th century), only gradual local interventions were made along the upper reaches in the heath and marsh landscape. Previously, the marsh landscape and wet woodland were hardly accessible. Here, ground and rainwater flowed slowly to lower areas. To enable agriculture in the slightly higher grounds along the valley, drainage channels had to be constructed. It is unclear when this drainage began, but it is assumed that it started before the beginning of the 11th century. Especially from the Full Middle Ages onward, the landscape changed dramatically. The traces of this are still recognizable in the form of the road and path structure, stream crossings, settlements and hamlets, old fields, dug waterways, and hedgerows.

The first part of the walking route along the Astense Aa is called “Astense Aa - from Helmond to Leensel.” Starting from the estuary at Helmond, you walk upstream to the hamlet of Leensel. This lies halfway between the estuary and the ‘source’ of the Astense Aa. Here, the first walking route ends. The walking route “Astense Aa - Leensel to the Peel” leads you further from Leensel to the ‘source’. That source, or more precisely the inlet, is located at the Canal of Deurne east of Neerkant. Both routes together are 23.3 km long. However, for those who find this distance too long, Leensel is a great stop and restart point.

Tip: The starting and stopping points are difficult to reach by public transport. For those who have a car with a bike rack, it is advisable to bring the bike to the stopping point, then drive to the starting point, make the walk to the bike, and finally return to the starting point by bike.

The walking route: “Astense Aa - from Helmond to Leensel” starts at the site of HMVC (Helmond Model Flying Club) at the Stipdonkse Goorweg. Parking is possible along this road, but also along the unpaved Kadeweg between the Aa and the Zuid-Willemsvaart.

From the parking possibility, a car-free walking path starts to the mouth of the Astense Aa, located 350 meters further. From the estuary, the route continues along unpaved paths by the bank of the Astense Aa and, where the banks are inaccessible, along paved and unpaved country roads. Along the way, remnants from past landscape formation and landscape (re)design can be seen. Nature reserves and agricultural landscapes alternate. Experience the landscape in which the first farming communities utilized the area and how medieval population growth influenced the landscape. Also see what the land consolidation and scaling up in the second half of the last century brought about and how, here and there, it is evident that perspectives are changing.