Page 371 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

NOR TH BR ABANT  369

9 Heeze
Road Map C5. * 15,700. £ @
n Schoolstraat 2 (040-2260644).
( Thu am.
The 17th-century castle of
Kasteel Heeze is the centrepiece
of this small Brabant town, just
outside Eindhoven. Designed by
Pieter Post, it stands amid lovely
streams, woods and meadows.
Among the many exhibits set out
in the castle’s 30 halls are valuable
Gobelin tapestries.
+ Kasteel Heeze
Kapelstraat 25. Tel 040-2261431.
Open May–Sep. & 8 May–Sep:
2pm Wed, 2 & 3pm Sun (Jul & Aug: The vast Strabrechtse Heide at Heeze and Geldrop
also 2pm Wed).
E Vincentre w Deurne
Berg 29. Tel 040-2839615.
0 Nuenen Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun (Mon in Road Map D5. * 32,000. £ @
n Markt 14 (0493-323655). ( Fri pm.
summer only). & some public hols.
Road Map C5. * 22,700. @ n
Berg 29 (040-2839615). ( Mon pm. The relaxing town of Deurne
is an artistic centre. The house
Nuenen, northeast of Eindhoven, q Helmond (1922) of the extravagant
is the village where Van Gogh Road Map C5. * 90,100£ @ doctor and painter Henrik
lived from 1883 to 1885. The n Watermolenwal 11 (0492-522220). Wiedersma, who used to make
Vincentre in Van Gogh Village ( Wed am, Sat am. house calls on his motorcycle,
deals comprehensively with his is now a museum of
time in Nuenen. The most outstanding feature expressionist works by the
of Helmond is the castle doctor and his avant-garde
dating from 1402, today the friends, including Ossip Zadkine,
Gemeentemuseum (local who often stayed with him.
history museum). The museum Poets such as Roland Holst,
has many historical artifacts and Nijhoff and Bloem were also
a fine collection of modern art, regular visitors to the house.
including works by Breitner and
Charley Toorop. E Museum De Wieger
Oude Liesselseweg 29. Tel 0493-322930.
E Gemeentemuseum Open noon–5pm Wed–Sun. Closed
Kasteelplein 1. Tel 0492-845980. Mon, Tue & most public hols. & -
The magnificent 17th-century Open 10am–5pm Tue–Fri, noon–5pm
Kasteel Heeze Sat & Sun. & 7 8 -
e Gemert
Van Gogh in Brabant Road Map C5. * 27,300 (commun ity
of Gemert-Bakel). @ n Ridder plein
Vincent van Gogh was born in 1853 49 (0492-366606). ( Mon pm.
in Zundert, south of Breda. There, in the
Cultureel Centrum, you can learn about Gemert is a town of historical
his childhood. In 1883, he moved to importance; its nickname was
Nuenen, where his father was rector. once “Heerlijkheid Gemert”
He stayed there until 1885, when he (“glorious Gemert”). Until 1794
moved on to Antwerp. The Nuenen it was ruled by the Knights of
period was very prolific for Van Gogh. the Teutonic Order: their castle
Rural life in Brabant inspired him, and he still stands and is now used
painted farms, labourers and weavers in as a monastery.
the blue and brown tones that are so The Boerenbondmuseum
characteristic of his Nuenen work.
A famous painting dating from this (agricultural museum) is in a
period is The Potato Eaters (1885). farmhouse dating from the
beginning of the 20th century;
Statue of Van Gogh in Nuenen the displays portray what rural
life was like at that time.

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