The best traffic-free bike rides in Nieuwe Heide

Lovely resting spot during a bike tour through the Brabant landscape.

Deep in the woods of the Baest Estate, hidden among ancient oak trees and quiet lanes, lies the Chapel of Our Lady of the Holy Oak. This small pilgrimage chapel has a centuries-old history dating back to the 15th century. According to tradition, a statue of the Virgin Mary was found in an oak tree at this location, after which miracles were said to have occurred. The news spread quickly, and the place soon became an important place of pilgrimage. The first wooden chapel was later replaced by a stone building, so that the thousands of pilgrims who flocked to this forest annually had a permanent place to venerate Mary. Even today, the chapel exudes a special atmosphere. Candles still burn inside, and benches are placed outside where walkers and visitors can take a moment to relax. The chapel is a prominent feature of the Baest Estate: a place where nature, faith, and history intersect. As the Beerze River meanders peacefully through the landscape, the chapel seems to watch over the woods as a silent witness to centuries of popular devotion.

Beautiful heathland that blooms from mid-August to mid-September. Definitely worth cycling here, but that also applies to other seasons.

Nice bike ride through the woods

The monument consists of four concrete columns, topped with a statue of a pelican on its nest, with its young. The pelican is the Christian symbol of total self-sacrifice. According to legend, the bird feeds its young with its own blood. Around the columns is a relief of soldiers mourning a soldier on the ground. The columns are 6.5 meters high. Joe Mann This monument is a tribute to American paratrooper Joe Eugene Mann and all who fought to liberate Best. Joe Mann was an American soldier in World War II. He served with the 101st Airborne Division of the US Army during Operation Market-Garden and was killed in the battle in Best for the bridge over the Wilhelmina Canal on September 19, 1944, sacrificing himself for his fellow soldiers. He absorbed the explosion of a grenade with his back, thereby saving the lives of his comrades. For this act, he was posthumously awarded the highest American military decoration: the Medal of Honor. He is buried at Greenwood Memorial Terrace in Spokane, Washington State. The story of Joe E. Mann only became known in the region later, through a publication by Cees Wittebrood in the Bata Courier on October 22, 1954. This led to the construction of the Joe Mann Theater and the Joe Mann War Memorial. Reliefs on the Monument The reliefs on the monument depict Joe Mann's heroic act. Sergeant Bertras is depicted on the far left of the front, throwing a hand grenade from the shelter where Joe Mann lay with several wounded men. On the far right is Private Laino, who was severely wounded in the face when a grenade exploded on the barrel of his machine gun. The main motif on the front of the monument is Lieutenant Edward Wierszbowski, bending over the dying Joe Mann. The images on the front extend into the relief to the right of the monument, which depicts the wounded Joe Mann in his shelter. This part of the monument bears the United States coat of arms (eagle with coat of arms). The small relief on the back depicts Saint Odulphus, which appears in the coat of arms of the municipality of Best. The left section depicts Private L. Koller, who was killed by a bullet while he slept. The eagle, which appears in the coat of arms of the 101st Airborne Division, is also depicted there. The foot of the monument bears the inscription, which also appears on the Medal of Honor: "His extraordinary courtesy and magnificent conduct were an everlasting inspiration to his comrades, for whom he gave his life." The statue was designed by Nijmegen artist Ad Berntsen and unveiled by Joe Mann's parents on September 17, 1956, in the presence of Mayor Notermans, the military attaché of the American embassy in The Hague, and 13 Americans from the 101st Airborne Division, among many others.

Robert Cole and Joe Mann On September 18 and 19, 1944, these woods witnessed unprecedented fierce fighting. German troops attempted to prevent the breakthrough of American paratroopers who had landed the previous day and the British troops advancing from the south. Two exceptionally brave men were killed in this battle. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole and Private Joe Mann were both posthumously awarded the highest American military decoration: the Medal of Honor. Listen to their stories here. On Monday, September 18 and Tuesday, September 19, the woods between Son and Best witnessed extremely fierce fighting between units of the German 59th Division and the 502nd Regiment of the US 101st Airborne Division, which was later supported by the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment and the British 15/19 Hussars. The Germans attempted, among other things, to recapture the drop and landing zones at Son and advanced from Boxtel and Best. They wanted to prevent the Americans and British from breaking through. Many soldiers were killed in these battles. Among them were Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole and Private Joe Mann. Both were awarded the highest American military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for their exceptional courage. Here's a listen to their stories.

Not only perfect but also beautiful. The environment there is also nicely extended, beautiful for photography and certainly for making a bike video.

WW2: Marketgarden area between Best and Son.