Helleputten and Moerenburg Loop

You’ll be walking a flat, watery edge-of-city landscape where Tilburg quickly gives way to reedbeds, willow-lined ditches, small woods, and open meadows. At around 15 km / 9.3 mi with roughly 0 m / 0 ft of climbing, this loop is more about rhythm and scenery than effort—ideal for an easy half-day with plenty of stops for birds and viewpoints.

Getting to the start (car + public transport)

A practical place to begin is by Landschapspark Moerenburg, Oisterwijksebaan 15, 5018 TG Tilburg (Netherlands), which is commonly used as an access point into the park. (vangoghbrabant.com)
Another clear landmark that sits right on the Moerenburg network is Rioolgemaal Moerenburg, Hoevensekanaaldijk 38, Tilburg, which also works well as a navigation anchor if you’re building the loop in HiiKER. (waze.com)

• By car: Aim for parking near Oisterwijksebaan 15 or along the access points by the Hoevensekanaaldijk (near the pumping station). These are on the southeast edge of Tilburg, so you avoid inner-city traffic and step straight onto paths. (vangoghbrabant.com)
  
• By public transport: Tilburg has strong rail/bus connections; from Tilburg station, local buses and a short walk can get you to the Moerenburg edge (Oisterwijksebaan area). If you’re unfamiliar with the local stops, use HiiKER to pin the start at Oisterwijksebaan 15 or Rioolgemaal Moerenburg and route yourself to the nearest transit approach.

From the start, expect a mix of compacted gravel, grass tracks, and narrow path segments. After wet weather, some low sections can be soft or puddled—waterproof shoes are helpful even on an “easy” profile.

What the loop feels like underfoot

The first kilometers ease you into Moerenburg’s signature terrain: flat polder-like fields, drainage channels, and young woodland edges. You’ll notice how quickly the soundscape changes—traffic fades and is replaced by wind in reeds and constant bird activity.

Because the elevation gain is essentially negligible (~0 m / 0 ft), pacing is straightforward. The only “effort” comes from: - wind exposure across open meadows, - muddy patches in wetter months, - and occasional shared-use segments where you’ll want to stay alert for faster users.

Landmarks and points of interest (with approximate distances)

Distances below assume a ~15 km / 9.3 mi loop starting near Oisterwijksebaan.

• 0.0–3.0 km (0.0–1.9 mi): Moerenburg’s meadows, ditches, and hedgerows
  This is classic Brabant lowland: knot willows, field margins, and water everywhere. The area is managed as a landscape park and is known locally as a favorite walking zone on Tilburg’s southeast edge. (tilburg.nl)

• ~3.0–6.5 km (1.9–4.0 mi): Water infrastructure turned landscape feature
  You’ll pass near the Moerenburg pumping station / former wastewater site, a reminder that this “nature” area is also shaped by engineering. The old Tilburg-Oost wastewater facility was converted into a pumping station in the mid-2000s, and the broader landscape park development incorporated water buffering and wetland-style filtration features. (geheugenvantilburg.nl)
  Expect straight canal-side walking here—easy navigation, big skies, and excellent birdwatching.

• ~6.5–10.5 km (4.0–6.5 mi): Helleputten—ponds and wetter ground
  The Helleputten section is where the loop feels most “wild,” with more saturated soils and a stronger sense of being in a small wetland basin. Helleputten is described as one of the westernmost vennen (pond/heathland waterbodies) of the Oisterwijk area, sitting in a low-lying stream-valley setting. (oisterwijknieuws.nl)
  After rain, this is the most likely part of the loop to have slick edges and standing water—give yourself