Hotel de Leijhof Oisterwijk

Welcome to Oisterwijk, the 'Pearl of Brabant”

Oisterwijk is surrounded by many beautiful woods and natural fens. You will see fens covered with water lilies hidden in the unique Kampina moors. You can choose from various walks through this scenery from the visitors’ centre on Van Tienhovenlaan. Here you will learn everything about the origin of the fens and its abundant flora and fauna.

Leisure wise Oisterwijk has a lot to offer. In summer you can go to the Natuurtheater on Gemullehoekenweg 147 with its variety of puppet shows and open-air performances. Nowhere else but on Vennelaan will you be able to hire the so-called Piet Plezier bikes, a kind of family bikes/skelters for 4 to 8 persons, an ideal means of transport to explore the surroundings in groups. This is also the place to be if you want to play midget golf or go bowling.

Now Oisterwijk is a charming little town of 25,000 inhabitants cherishing the honorary title of ‘Pearl amidst green’, mainly owing to the unique woods and fens, the historical places of interest and the large presence of shops, pubs, restaurants, hotels, campsites and leisure facilities.

The hotel is situated in the centre of the province 'Brabant' and close to the cities Tilburg, 's Hertogenbosch and Eindhoven, as well as close to the city centre and the railway station. The famous street 'de Lind'of Oisterwijk has a variety of nice shops, restaurants and terraces.

History

As early as in 1213 Oisterwijk was given rights of freedom by Duke Henry I and thus it became just as privileged as ’s-Hertogenbosch. Oisterwijk’s own bench of alderman judged cases under the old lime tree, which, according to legend, has been right opposite the town hall since 1388 already. The later Duke John III and Duchess Johanna were also favourably disposed towards Oisterwijk and rendered it numerous privileges. Unfortunately, the town knew less prosperous times such as the 16th-century iconoclastic fury, the Eighty Years’ War, the French occupation and the two World Wars. Especially the leather, shoe and cigar industries flourished in Oisterwijk in addition to traditional agriculture on the infertile moors. The Kuyper and De Huifkar cigars were widely known even in the then East Indies. However, when after World War I many soldiers who had been quartered in Oisterwijk returned with their families, a new flourishing industry came into being: tourism.