Tilburg Tourist Attractions
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The industrial town of Tilburg, on the Wilhelminakanaal, is the largest economic and cultural center of the southern Netherlands after Eindhoven, though it did not receive its municipal charter until 1809. It is the country's principal Roman Catholic center, with a Catholic University. The town also has colleges of economics, teachers' training, architecture and music.Tilburg's traditional woolen industry still plays a predominant part in the town's economy, producing some 60 per cent of the total output of woolen goods in the Netherlands. In recent years metalworking and other branches of industry have been established in the town to avoid the risks of undue dependence on a single industry.
Town Hall
The Town Hall (Stadhuis) now occupies the white neo-Gothic palace built in 1847-49 for King William II, who died here in 1849.
Heike Kerk
The Heike Kerk (1828), a handsome building in what is called the Waterstaat style, has a marble high altar (by G. Kerriex, ca. 1700) from the abbey of St Michiel in Antwerp.
Textile Museum
The Textile Museum (Textielmuseum) at Goireestraat 96 displays precious fabrics from all over the world and old looms, spinning wheels, etc.
De Pont Foundation for Contemporary Art
At the De Pont Foundation for Contemporary Art, collections contains work from young and older artists. There is a permanent display as well as two larger and several smaller exhibitions that are organized annually.
Surroundings
De Efteling Fairytale Park, Kaatsheuvel
North of Tilburg, at the village of Kaatsheuvel, is De Efteling Fairytale Park (65 hectares/160 acres), with three large lakes (bathing, rowing), Europe's largest haunted castle, a fairytale forest, a fairytale town, a terrace restaurant and a tea-house.The theme park has icreased tourist attendance in Kaatsheuvel.
Waalwijk
Just 5km/3mi northeast of Kaatsheuvel is Waalwijk, with the Leather and Shoe Museum (Leder- en Schoenenmuseum), in an old shoe factory.
Beekse Bergen
Southeast of Tilburg on the Hilvarenbeek road can be found the very popular Beekse Bergen amusement and safari park.
Oisterwijk
East of Bergen on the old road to 's- Hertogenbosch, in dune-like country, is the little town of Oisterwijk, known as the "Pearl of Brabant", with the neo-Gothic St Petruskerk (by P. J. H. Cuypers, 1897), which has a fine wall painting by Charles Eyck, and a railroad station of 1865 which is now scheduled as a national monument.
Oisterwijkse - Vennen
South of Oisterwijk lies the Oisterwijkse Vennen nature reserve (600 hectares/1500 acres), an expanse of heath and wooded country, with several lakes, which is one of the most popular recreation areas in North Brabant.
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum (Noordbrabants Natuurmuseum) at Spoorlaan 434 has interesting geological, botanical and zoological collections.
