Together with St. John’s Cathedral in ’s-Hertogenbosch, the Grote Kerk church in Breda and the Markiezenhof in Bergen op Zoom, Kasteel Heeswijk is one of the four official Top Monuments in Brabant. You can experience the chequered history of almost one thousand years of power, pride and culture of the elite of Brabant, all prominently located in the River Aa valley close to ’s-Hertogenbosch. The castle is also the Nature Gateway to Brabant and is encircled by the Heeswijk Estate where you can spend some relaxing time among beautiful countryside. Come and enjoy this imposing monument!
“Wonderful castle”
People of all ages are welcome in the castle: children can learn all about the knights who were once here in an exciting treasure hunt. That certainly made an impression on Susan: “I was allowed to put the helmet on my head to feel how heavy it was!”
With a multilingual website, audio tour and guided tours - which if reserved in advance are possible in English, German, French and Spanish – many overseas visitors make their way to Kasteel Heeswijk. To much satisfaction, according to this reaction: “This old and very well kept castle is definitely worth a visit if you are in the southern area of Holland. […] The surrounding area is great for a stroll to enjoy the countryside. I would say this is a must see!”
Nature Gateway to Brabant
The Nature Gateway offers lovely walks from the castle through the woods and along the estate’s avenues and fields, criss-crossed by the meandering River Aa. Sail in a whisper boat to the unique Kilsdonkse Molen watermill and windmill, and visit the Museumboerderij (Farming Museum) in the village of Heeswijk-Dinther, or sample an abbey beer in the centuries’ old Berne Abbey, the longest established religious community in the Netherlands.
If you would like to hear great background stories and interesting facts, then a guided tour by an experienced guide or the ‘Heeswijk Castle Speaks’ audio tour is highly recommended.
The guided tour of the estate includes the beautiful castle, you go past farms that were once the property of the baron, you see the former gardens and greenhouses, the official lodgings and the restored landscape, including the avenues, the meandering River Aa, Motteburcht De Heeskijk (observation tower).
Every guest is a lover of life at Bij de Barones, whether you come for coffee, lunch, a drink of a Brabant speciality. Enjoy coffee with luxury pastries, lunch with ingredients made at the castle or have a drink from the beer and wine menu. Bij de Barones is a wonderful place to enjoy yourself!
The castle is a genuine place of discovery for children. Try to find the secret staircases and corridors, try on a knight’s helmet. Discover the exceptional stories of the castle during your exploration of the castle.
Roughly 40 castle owners have lived in Heeswijk Castle. In this audio tour, many of the owners get a voice and if we know what they look like, a face too. They speak to you from their own eras and tell you about the castle as it was then. Walk on your own through the castle and listen to the stories.
Please contact us for the complete list of excursions and contact details.