Recreatiepark Brugse Heide

Get a feel for this part of the Netherlands by starting stays with a deep dive into local history: it’s less than five minutes’ drive from the site to the 13th-century mill complex Venbergse Watermolen, 20 minutes to the open-air Eindhoven Museum (an interactive museum with residents dressed in historical garb) and 25 minutes to Weverijmuseum Geldrop, where visitors get an insight into weaving’s significance in the area. To get to grips with the surrounding nature instead, start with a day of tours and tastings among the goats at ‘t Geitenboerke farm (25 minutes), then travel onwards to Zoo Veldhoven (25 minutes) or, one of the largest wildlife parks in the Netherlands, Beekse Bergen safari park (40 minutes). If days of shopping and culture are more of your thing, the site’s within handy reach of several cities, including Helmond (35 minutes), Weert (25 minutes), Eindhoven (30 minutes) and ‘S-Hertogenbosch (45 minutes). The latter, known locally as Den Bosch, is a top stop for museums, gardens and castles, and Eindhoven is a must-visit for art and history museums, indoor amusement parks and city zoos. Fancy finishing up hols with a burst of adrenaline? The rides and rollercoasters at both Efteling and Toverland are within 50 minutes' drive.