From now on, cyclists can explore a new thematic bike route around the Efteling that tells the story of the Danse Macabre attraction. The 18-kilometer route “The Cursed Letter” from Brabant Partners leads through Kaatsheuvel and the Loonse en Drunense Duinen National Park, connecting Brabant legends with the landscape. It follows the trail of a post coachman carrying a cursed letter.
Practical Information on the Route
The bike route is signposted via the North Brabant junction system, with cyclists following the white-green signs from junction to junction. Along the way, there are rest areas, dining establishments, and viewpoints such as the one at Bosch & Duin. The duration is about one hour and thirty minutes. The route starts in the lively center of Kaatsheuvel and heads toward the Loonse en Drunense Duinen National Park with extensive forests and impressive sand plains. Cyclists can dismount at Restaurant Bosch & Duin and walk about one kilometer to the viewpoint, which offers a breathtaking view over the drifting sand area. In Loon op Zand, cozy dining spots invite visitors for lunch or coffee. On the way back, just before junction 11, a beautiful walking path through a stately tree avenue branches off to the left, where cyclists can dismount and experience the final chord of this fairytale bike tour.The Landscape Along the Route
The route begins in the center of Kaatsheuvel and winds through forests, sand plains, horse pastures, and ancient paths. Cyclists pass places like the White Castle, Natuurpoort van Loon, and the Oude Eftelingsestraat, named after the hamlet that gave the Efteling its name. The nature surrounding the park feels fairytale-like and provides an atmospheric backdrop for the bike route around the Efteling, which picks up the story of the Danse Macabre attraction.The Story of the Post Coachman
Everyone in the wider area knows the post coachman. And everyone knows him. The post coachman is very dutiful. He has never violated the post coachmen's code of honor: every letter entrusted to him, he delivers. At the center is the tale of a dutiful post coachman who receives a mysterious letter from a black figure with one blue and one yellow eye. This figure, known as the Unnameable, may be familiar to visitors from the Efteling attraction Danse Macabre. The coachman must deliver the letter according to his code of honor to the young baroness of the White Castle: his silent beloved. The letter contains a score for participation in the music competition at the Abbey of Capelle in Kaatsheuvel. Whoever reads the score falls victim to an eternal curse. The route becomes a race against time, where the post coachman, the Unnameable, or the cyclist themselves might get hold of the letter. The ride leads through ancient forests and ominous sand paths. Who will catch the letter first? Ride the route and find out for yourself. But beware: a single glance at the score and you are cursed.Voices on the New Route
Heleen Huisjes, director of Brabant Partners, explains that this twelfth route in the Sagen & Legenden series connects a beautiful Brabant folk tale with the landscape. The Efteling and its surroundings make the perfect setting for a fairytale bike tour that makes Brabant's rich heritage accessible to young and old alike. Fons Jurgens, general director of the Efteling, emphasizes that the experience route offers more opportunities to enjoy the natural surroundings in and around the Loonse en Drunense Duinen. The collaboration with Brabant Partners brings part of the Danse Macabre story outside the park as well. In addition, it aims to inspire visitors to reach for the bike more often.Legends and Tales in Brabant
Brabant is known for its rich storytelling culture. The Sagen & Legenden routes allow visitors to discover the province's most beautiful spots and ancient regional stories by bike or on foot. These include tales like that of Zwarte Kaat in Bladel, De Gloeiige in Eersel, or the Bende van de Witte Veer in Loon op Zand.Other Routes in the Series
Another route is the Kabouterkoning Kyrië Bike Route, one of two routes about Kabouterkoning Kyrië in Hoogeloon. It lasts forty-five minutes and covers nine kilometers. For generations, people in the Kempen have told each other about Kabouterkoning Kyrië, whose full story is available in the description. This bike route via junctions leads along the exciting history. Long ago, a mysterious gnome people lived in the Kempen, kind to humans and animals but never showing themselves to people. Only in the evening, in the dark, did they come out. Then they helped the Kempen residents with hard work like building, baking, cheese making, and plowing. Nothing was too much for the gnomes, but leave them in peace... otherwise a punishment might follow. Set off and step into the footsteps of the Kempische Kabouterkes, but be warned.The Dancing Cats of Bergeijk Bike Route explores the exciting story about the miller and the legend of the dancing cats. It lasts one hour and forty minutes and spans twenty-two kilometers. Nowadays, the Keien, or witches, can still be found everywhere in Bergeijk, and on some nights, sounds still come from the Theater de Kattendans. Cyclists can ride the route, enjoy the legend, and learn more about Bergeijk's stories in the Cultuurhuis. This bike route via junctions leads along the exciting history. In the middle of Bergeijk's forests lies the Kattenberg, where witches once danced paw to paw. To avoid recognition, the witches transformed into black cats and hexed vigorously. If a man walked by alone, the witches lured him into the circle and forced him to dance. Sometimes it ended fatally. Therefore, every man avoided the place, except Dorus, the miller. Step into his footsteps and discover why he danced paw to paw with the black cats.
The Kabouter Bike Route is one of two routes about Kabouterkoning Kyrië in the area around Bladel. It lasts two hours and covers twenty-four kilometers. For generations, people in the Kempen have told each other about Kabouterkoning Kyrië, whose full story is available in the description. This bike route via junctions leads along the exciting history. Long ago, a mysterious gnome people lived in the Kempen, kind to humans and animals but never showing themselves to people. Only in the evening, in the dark, did they come out. Then they helped the Kempen residents with hard work like building, baking, cheese making, and plowing. Nothing was too much for the gnomes, but leave them in peace... otherwise a punishment might follow. Cyclists step into the footsteps of the Kempische Kabouterkes, but be warned.
The Het Duvelsklökske Bike Route is about the vanished little bell in Sambeek. It lasts one hour and thirty minutes and spans eighteen kilometers. This is a story that fathers and mothers have told their children for centuries, preferably when the wind howls around the house and it's uncomfortable and dark outside. The children pass it on to their children. A story about a bell and a tower, a pastor and a devil. This bike route via junctions leads along the exciting history. From the weir and lock complex in Sambeek, the path goes down the dike, where the Sint-Janstoren becomes visible in the distance. It towers high above the Maasheggen landscape and is called Knoeper by the Sambekenaren. Once, on a Christmas night, a devil danced around the tower spire. Cyclists join the search for the vanished little bell and perk up their ears, perhaps hearing it ring somewhere.
The Bende van de Witte Veer Bike Route tells of the gang members of the Witte Veer in Loon op Zand. It lasts three hours and thirty-five minutes and covers forty-three kilometers. Around 1720, North Brabant suffered under Spanish and French occupation troops, where survival was the only thing that mattered. A group of heathens, vagrants, and deserters formed a loose gang and became the terror of the area. Farms and country houses were not safe from their plundering raids. Stolen goods and livestock were sold to fences in the area in exchange for clothing, food, and weapons. Deep in the impenetrable area between Loon op Zand and 's-Gravenmoer, the gang hid in a camp. The most notorious and cunning of them all was gang leader Swarte Johannes. No one knows what he really looks like, as Swarte Johannes is a master of disguises. Only the white feather on his hat is a sign that he is a member of the Bende van de Witte Veer. This bike route via junctions leads along the exciting history.
The De Gloeiige Bike Route is in the sign of the cursed landowner from Eersel. It lasts two hours and thirty minutes and spans thirty kilometers. About two hundred years ago, people in the Brabant village of Eersel did not have much money. Nevertheless, they were happy and content. Except for one man. He was alone. Without a wife, children, and friends. That was not surprising. For this man had only one dream: to become rich. This bike route via junctions leads along the exciting history. In the Kempen, friends and family liked to gather in the evenings. Then they told each other scary stories. Especially the story of the Gloeiige was often told. This burning ghostly apparition appeared everywhere in the area. Here it left its traces, including black burned footprints that can still be found everywhere. Once, the Gloeiige was a stately landowner from Eersel. But due to his greed, a curse now rests on him. Cyclists discover why the Gloeiige was cursed and where they might encounter him.
The Mystery of the Golden Peel Helmet Bike Route lets you experience the mysterious Peel and discover the story of the Golden Peel Helmet. It lasts four hours and forty minutes and covers fifty-six kilometers. The route goes through the versatile southern Peel municipalities like Someren, Asten, and Helenaveen. Cyclists cast glances from one of the observation towers and experience the impressive and mystical Groote Peel, where various legends originated. Is that one of the treasures of the Roman robber knight shining there? Also, do not forget to dismount along the way. Try the influence of the Roman foundations on which this village lies at one of the Somerense entrepreneurs. Learn more about the Peel in the Museum Klok en Peel or explore the Deurnesche and Mariapeel from Helenaveen.
The De Witte Vos Bike Route is about the cat-and-mouse game in the area around Reusel. It lasts four hours and twenty-five minutes and spans fifty-three kilometers. At the beginning of the 20th century, the inhabitants of Reusel and its surroundings lived in great poverty. There was a great shortage of everything. To still earn money for their families, the Reuselnaren started smuggling. At night, they secretly crossed the Belgian border with all kinds of Dutch goods, which they sold in Belgium at much higher prices. And vice versa. The bike route De Witte Vos runs via junctions and is a route of fifty-three kilometers, consisting of a northern loop of twenty-eight kilometers and a southern loop of twenty-five kilometers, in the area around Reusel. For generations, stories about legendary smugglers have circulated in Reusel and surroundings. They devised countless tricks to cross the border with their cargo. But none of them was as clever and notorious as the Witte Vos, the craftsman who repeatedly outsmarted the border guards. Join the smuggling path.
The Fable Bike Route in the Maasheggen lets you hear fables of animals from the Maasheggen along the way. It lasts one hour and fifteen minutes and covers fifteen kilometers. Once, the Romans passed through the Maasheggen landscape. A famous Roman from that time was Phaedrus, a renowned poet. He wrote fables, short stories in which animals are portrayed as humans and which often contain a wise lesson. He also adapted the fables of the Greek poet Aesopus. During their march through the Maasheggen, Roman legionaries passed the fables on to each other. Perhaps, when seeing fleeing animals between the hawthorn hedges, they thought they saw the main characters from the fables of their famous countryman. Do you see them too? Get acquainted with these adventurous animals and their experiences in the Maasheggen area. This bike route via junctions leads along the exciting history. On the fifteen-kilometer bike route through the UNESCO area De Maasheggen and the De Vilt nature reserve, fifteen contemporary fables are told. In all fables, animals and plants that also occur in the nature-rich surroundings of Oeffelt and Beugen play the main role.
The Zwarte Kaat Bike Route leads on the trails of Zwarte Kaat in De Kempen. It lasts three hours and covers thirty-six kilometers. For generations, the exciting story of Zwarte Kaat, the witch of Hellenende, has been told in the border region De Kempen in Brabant. In the past, she made the Kempen unsafe; now she is hidden in the magnificent nature. This bike route via junctions leads along her exciting history. In the past, she made the Kempen unsafe; now she is hidden in the Kempische nature. Those who look closely will find traces of her past. Go hunting yourself, discover her history, and come face to face with her greed for wealth, prosperity, happiness, and bliss. Need to recover from the fright? After the tension, enjoy the delicious Zwarte-Kaat treats developed by various Kempische entrepreneurs. How about Zwarte-Kaat beer, cheese, ice cream, or chocolate?
The Jan van Gorp Bike and Walking Route discovers the earthly paradise of Jan van Gorp in Hilvarenbeek. It lasts two hours and five minutes and covers fifteen and a half kilometers. In the sixteenth century, a wonder child was born in Hilvarenbeek. Johannes Goropius Becanus, also called Jan van Gorp. Jan had enormous language talent, great intuition, and much knowledge of nature. He combined this knowledge with feeling and found... the earthly paradise. Cyclists discover his story in Hilvarenbeek, where they enjoy the magnificent nature, centuries-old buildings, fun climbing forests, and delicious food on one of the many terraces. This bike and walking route starts at De Vrijthof in Hilvarenbeek and is a total of fifteen point five kilometers long. The bike route is ten kilometers, and the walking route is five point five kilometers. To start the walking route, first ride to bike junction 50. From there, continue to De Nieuwe Hoef to park your bike. Walk from here to walking junction 92. After your walk, get back on the bike and ride back to bike junction 50. Here the bike route continues toward the endpoint.
