It was our fifth day in Eindhoven and yet another perfect day to walk around after a wonderful day out to Van Gogh Village & Museum in Nuenen the previous day. With the sun shining bright since morning and the clouds appearing once in a while only. For this day our four year old little one ‘Kurchi’ with whom we were staying for a week had chalked out the plan. She was to take us to her favorite destination in Eindhoven and so we all set out together after lunch. The five of us and her mom’s cycle. Just in case she felt tired during our little longish walk to the countryside. To experience the best of Genneper Parken Eindhoven.

Rapelenberg neighborhood

Rapelenburg is a neighborhood in the Gestel district and is known for its historical roots. And we were putting up right on the high street Hoogstraat. Eindhoven itself is a compact modern green city with numerous parks and green spaces all around. And so was this location where we were staying. With the amazing part being the surroundings with a rural relaxed presence just a short walk away from our home.

Also anything that you need is available almost next door. With all leading departmental chain stores, restaurants, ice-cream parlors, specialty shops and a bike rental outlet as well. The two of us completely fell in love with the location.

And then you can even take a stroll to the Centraal station for the great ambiance there if you wish to. With window shopping, a bit of shopping and also maybe some moments of relaxation in one of the many street lined cafes on the way. We did exactly that one morning adding an interesting children’s library as well to our plan.

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Our lovely walk through the Greens

It was the month of October which these days is the perfect time to be in Europe. Being autumn the landscape transforms to one of happiness with colorful patchworks of yellow, magenta red and fiery orange all around. On the trees and on the streets. The sun, the lovely cool breeze, the nice homes, vacant streets and hardly any traffic on the highway made our walk very relaxed and enjoyable. We were on our way to Genneper Parken.

The refreshing leisurely walk took us around half an hour. We realized we had reached Genneper Parken with the first sight of Dommel river immediately after crossing the highway.

Genneper Parken

Genneper Parken Eindhoven is a large recreational park which offers a variety of outdoor activities and attractions. It’s a favorite with residents for walking, jogging, sports facilities, nature reserves, a petting zoo and cultural events.

Vacationers like us can enjoy historical landmarks, walking and cycling trails, water sports, sauna, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, outdoor lounging areas and of course relaxing by the river. Also the outdoor museum preHistorisch Dorp allows visitors to get a glimpse of different historical periods, early farmers, Romans, Vikings and the eighty year old war.

There is also the Pavilion where you can play miniature golf in a beautifully landscaped garden. Or relax on one of the terraces with some beer, wine, a trendy drink and a choice of regional dishes. And for the kids there is an extensive choice of fries, pancakes or tasty pizzas from the oven. But first let’s enjoy the riverside.

River Dommel

The Dommel is a small river in Belgium which takes water from the Keersop, Tongelreep, Run, Gender and Kleine Dommel streams and merges at ‘s-Hertogenbosch with the Aa stream to form River Dieze. The sight of the river was refreshing and so was the freezing water in the stream as we prepared to sit a while and have the sandwiches and drinks that we had carried from home.

Genneper Watermolen

After a bit of relaxation and enjoying the beauty of nature we next walked to this historical landmark. Genneper Watermolen or Genneper Watermill along river Dommel dates back to the 14th century and offers visitors a glimpse into the traditional milling process.

It was listed as a national monument in 1972 and is connected to the history of the region. Restored and rebuilt numerous times the mill is now a grain mill. We hung around a bit understanding how the mill functions and enjoying the views while clicking a few shots from different angles.

Vincent van Gogh had lived nearby for a while and had painted the windmill multiple times. In 1884 itself he had painted it four times. The spot where he stood and painted also has a place in history now.

Nature Walk

Genneper Parken offers several walking trail options with the most popular one being 4.7 mile loop. It goes around the rivers Dommel and Tongelreep and takes around 1 hour 47 minutes to complete on an average. And it’s a great way to experience the natural beauty and history of the area with paths through meadows, woodlands and wetlands providing opportunities for birdwatching and observing local flora and fauna. For us our destination next was ‘Genneper Hoeve’ another lovely landmark.

Genneper Hoeve Farm

Genneper Hoeve Farm our little one’s favorite place is an urban farm with beautiful cows, hens & cocks, pigs and garden crops. You can roam around freely here and experience how food is produced and how cows are milked. There is a cheese factory as well and a shop where you can buy their eggs, milk, cheese, vegetables, bread, meat and other local products. Come let’s go around.

Pigs rooting in the mud

Snacks time for the cows

And gala evening for the hens & cocks

The poultry here reminded me of the one we had at our home during my childhood days with over 40 hens and cocks. It was my father’s dream project and we the siblings loved each one of them dearly with all the elderly ones having a name. This one below became very pally with me and followed us around as she happened to be the only lucky one outside the enclosed area. A cute one to bid us goodbye.

The Journey Back

We were back to Hoogstraat after spending a superb afternoon and were heading home. That’s when our little one announced that she still had a surprise up her sleeve for us. It was going to be an ice cream treat for all of us from her Mumma and so we each picked up our favorite cone before moving on. After all who doesn’t love walking with an ice cream in hand.

If you loved being in Genneper Parken Eindhoven, PIN it for planning & forward for friends!