Strabrechtse Heide

The Strabrechtse Heide covers about fifteen hundred hectares south-east of Eindhoven and is among the largest continuous heaths left in the Netherlands, most of the rest having been converted to farmland or pine plantation in the last two centuries. The Kleine Dommel runs through the middle in a shallow valley with wet grassland and alder, and there are fens - the Beuven is the largest heath fen in western Europe by some accounts, restored after decades of pollution from a nearby factory. A herded flock of Kempen sheep works the heath, driven out daily from a sheepfold, which is the traditional management and the reason the ground has not scrubbed over. In August the heather flowers across the whole open area. Nightjar, woodlark and adder are here, along with large numbers of dragonflies at the fens.

History

The heath, about 1,500 hectares across Heeze-Leende, Someren and Geldrop-Mierlo, is mostly cared for by the state forestry service, Staatsbosbeheer. In July 2010 a wildfire that took more than a week to put out damaged or burned about 200 hectares of it (Wikipedia, Strabrechtse Heide).

The landscape

• Fifteen hundred hectares of heath - among the largest continuous survivals here.
• A herded sheep flock - Kempen sheep driven out daily from the fold.
• The Beuven - a large restored heath fen after decades of pollution.
• Purple heather in August - flowering across the whole open ground.

When to go

August for the heather; April to October otherwise. A day.

Practical notes

Ticks are a serious problem. Adders are present - stay on paths and keep dogs leashed. Paths are sandy and slow. August weekends are busy. There is very little shade.

Nearby

Heeze castle is close; Eindhoven is north-west.

Key facts