Kanaaldijk Zuid, Lange Dreven and Welschappad Loop

This is a long, ruler-flat day (or a relaxed 2-day) loop of about 56 km / 35 miles with essentially 0 m / 0 ft of climbing, stitched together from canal-top paths, straight “dreven” (formal tree-lined lanes), and quiet rural connectors. Expect a lot of fast, even walking on hard surfaces—excellent for steady pacing, but it can be tough on feet if you’re not used to long distances on asphalt or compacted gravel.

Where the hike starts (nearest known landmark)

“Kanaaldijk Zuid” is used in multiple places in the Netherlands, but for this loop the most reliable, clearly identifiable start reference is along Kanaaldijk-Zuid in Eindhoven, near the city’s canal/industrial waterfront. A practical, easy-to-find landmark to aim for is Bottle Distillery, Kanaaldijk-Zuid 1D, 5643 TZ Eindhoven (good as a navigation anchor and meeting point). (bottledistillery.nl)

If your GPX/route notes include coordinates, share them and I’ll pin the start to the closest exact address/landmark.

Getting to the start

By public transport - Train to Eindhoven Centraal, then local bus/taxi to the Kanaaldijk-Zuid area. Several stops sit close to the canal-side streets (you’ll be walking within minutes of the water). (moovitapp.com)

By car - Navigate to Kanaaldijk-Zuid (Eindhoven) and park where legal along the industrial/canal-side streets. If you want a precise parking pin, use the Bottle Distillery address above as your target and then choose the nearest signed public parking. (bottledistillery.nl)

What the terrain feels like (and why it’s “easy” but still serious)

• Elevation: effectively flat—no meaningful hills, so your effort is all about time-on-feet rather than climbing.
• Underfoot: mostly paved canal dike, cycleway, and hard-packed farm access. This is “easy” navigation and gradient-wise, but 56 km / 35 miles is still a long endurance outing.
• Exposure: canal corridors can be windy and feel cooler than inland; shade comes and goes depending on tree lines and open polder stretches.

Navigation (keep it simple)

Use HiiKER for: - staying on the correct side of the canal where paths split, - confirming crossings/bridges (some canal crossings are far apart), - spotting resupply points before you commit to long rural stretches.

Because the landscape is so flat and linear, it’s easy to “feel” like you’re on-route while drifting onto a parallel cycleway or service road—HiiKER helps catch those small but costly errors early.

Along the canal: dikes, working water, and big-sky walking

The “Kanaaldijk Zuid” sections are classic Dutch lowland walking: straight lines, engineered banks, and constant water presence. You’ll pass: - locks/sluices, pumping infrastructure, and industrial edges (especially near Eindhoven’s canal-side zones), - long views where you can watch commercial barges and local boat traffic, - open fields where the horizon is wide and the weather is “honest” (you’ll know immediately if rain is coming).

Wildlife to look for Even in developed canal corridors, you can often spot: - waterfowl (ducks, geese, coots), - herons/egrets hunting the margins, - small raptors hovering over fields (kestrel-like behavior) and songbirds in reedbeds. In spring and early summer, expect louder bird activity at dawn and dusk; in winter, wind and open water can make it feel stark but dramatic.

Key watch-outs - Cyclists: Dutch dike paths often double as high-speed cycle routes. Walk single-file when busy and be predictable at bends. - Hard surface fatigue: plan foot care (socks, lubrication, blister kit). On a flat 56 km, repetitive impact is the main enemy. - Limited shelter: if a squall rolls in, there may be long gaps between covered spots.

The “dreven” and rural connectors: long straight lanes