Vincent van Gogh and his family have a special connection to Helvoirt, with Vincent visiting Helvoirt on church holidays and birthdays. His father was pastor here from 1871 to 1875. In addition to Vincent's parents, brothers and sisters, several other relatives lived in this village. A number of buildings, graves and a State Bible still bear witness to the van Gogh family's stay in Helvoirt.
Experience Van Gogh in Helvoirt
Helvoirt, in the middle of the Van Gogh Nationaal Park, is well worth a visit. In the village you walk past various monuments and places that recall the time when the Van Gogh family lived in Helvoirt. In addition to taking a nice walk on your own, there are also guided open walks on several Sundays!
Activities
In Helvoirt follow the Van Gogh Nationaal Park walk. A beautiful walk (15 km), which starts at the Holy Nicolaaskerk (Kastanjelaan 16).
Info hiking trail
Vincent drew some sketches in Helvoirt of the church where his father preached. The nature in this region is of a similar beauty to the landscape he knew from his youth and afterwards revisited around Etten and Nuenen. He drew and painted these landscapes with love. A number of these works are permanently exhibited in Het Noordbrabants Museum in 's-Hertogenbosch, a stone's throw from Helvoirt.
Helvoirt has seven Van Gogh Monuments. They are all special locations which refer to the time when the Van Gogh family stayed in Helvoirt. Read the stories.
There is a Tourist Information Point in the HelvoirThuis in Helvoirt. For more information about the Van Gogh Monuments, the history of the village, the surrounding villages as well as dining and accommodation options, please visit this information point.
" Vincent shares his memories of Helvoirt with his brother Theo, August 1876 "
"And how friendly Helvoirt and the lights in the village and the tower between the snowy poplars looked that evening, seen in the distance from the road to 's Bosch.─ But it is love that gives it all such great beauty and life."
Helvoirt also has something to offer youngsters! They can search for Van Gogh. During this walk of about 2.5 km, assignments are made and letters are collected. And in the meantime you will learn something about Vincent van Gogh and his family. The Van Gogh treasure hunt is available at the tourist information point for € 3.00 p.p.
At the time the Van Gogh family resided in Helvoirt, it was a traditional Brabant village in a rural setting. In today's Helvoirt, much can still be seen from Van Goghs time. The 7 official Van Gogh monuments in Helvoirt are also worth visiting. Based on the walking booklet 'Van Gogh in Helvoirt' you will be taken through the story of the Van Goghs in Helvoirt during a 3 km walk. The route takes you past the Van Gogh Monuments and other places that were so dear to Vincent.
For lovers of Van Gogh and the Brabant countryside, there are several routes and packages. A visit to the picturesque village can be combined with, for example, the Van Gogh bicycle route or a visit to Het Noordbrabants Museum.
