Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: Brabant-Septentrional

Famous Dutch architect Piet Blom built the first kubuswoningen (cube houses) of the Netherlands in Helmond. The first three cube houses were built in 1974 and 1975, as a foretaste of a larger project that would be realized in the years to follow. The project was classified as “experimental” and as a consequence, it was eligible for more government funding. The 18 houses of the follow-up project surrounded a theater (‘t Speelhuis) as one architectonical whole. The theater consisted of 37 cubes and contained three auditoria. In 1974 the foundation stone was laid. On December 3, the construction works reached the highest point of the first cube house. On December 29, 2011, the theater was destroyed in a large fire that also hit the some of the adjoining cube houses. The two damaged cube houses were restored in 2013/2014.

Kasteel Asten (Asten Castle) was first mentioned in 1399, when it was a stone building with the name “Asten”. In the early 15th century the current castle was built by Goosen van Berkel. This castle had an almost square ground plan with 3 wings around a courtyard and a small corner tower, circled by a moat. Between 1575 and 1625 the late-medieval castle was rebuilt into a Renaissance manor by Bernard van Merode. Also the present bailey was built and a second moat was dug. Several repairs were carried out around 1740 but Kasteel Asten was already falling into disrepair. From 1836 on the castle wasn't even permanently inhabited anymore. The empty building then slowly fell to ruin. From 1935 to1942 Kasteel Asten seemed to be saved when it was partially rebuilt by Baron Clemens van Hövell tot Westerflier. It was a rigorous reconstruction, partially based on fantasy. But in 1944 the castle was shelled by German phosphor grenades and destroyed. Nowadays the ruins of Kasteel Asten are privately owned. The buildings in the bailey are used as private residences. The ruins of the castle can be visited for a fee, but only on appointment, with a guide and as part of a group.

The Strabrechtse Heide is a nature area about 1500 ha in size. It is largely under the care of Staatsbosbeheer (a Dutch government organization for forestry and the management of nature reserves). The area is the largest continuous heathland area in the province of Noord-Brabant with numerous fens, woods and sand drift areas. Common Heather and Common Juniper are found in the dry areas, and the more marshy wetlands are home to Erica, Purple Moor Grass, Bog Myrtle and Marsh Gentian. The spread of grass across the area is countered by allowing a flock of sheep to graze, by mowing and sod cutting. The heath area is surrounded by forests. \ The nature area was assigned as”Natura 2000” area under the name "Strabrechtse Heide & Beuven".

Kasteel Heeze (Heeze Castle) used to be the centre of the seigneury of “Heeze, Leende and Zesgehuchten”, part of the Duchy of Brabant. In the Middle Ages, it was owned by the de Horne family. In the 17th century Pieter Post designed a new castle, of which the first part was built in 1665. After his death, the work was completed in a modified form by his son Maurits Post. Due to the rising costs of importing all building materials from other regions of the country, the build of the Post design was halted early and never finished. For this reason, the part of the castle that is used by the current owners was actually meant to be the servants' quarters. The biggest part of the castle was to be built behind the first courtyard. In 1733, Baron Adam de Holbach bought the property, which he gave to his nephew, Paul de Holbach, as a marriage present. In 1760 the castle was bought by Jan Maximiliaan van Tuyll van Serooskerken. This family has lived in the castle ever since. Part of Kasteel Heeze is used extensively for parties, including many wedding ceremonies.

Kasteel Geldrop (Geldrop Castle) - dating back to the year of 1350 - is located right in the center of Geldrop. The former vegetable garden and orchard was laid out around 1870 by Hubertus Paulus Hoevenaar jr., operator of sugar factories in the East Indies. In 2002, this vegetable garden was transformed into the Bloemenhof , a stunning garden, which is full of blooming flowers in summer, when the borders are filled with exuberant plant combinations, such as old shrub roses, grasses and cut flowers.

Kasteel Geldrop (Geldrop Castle) - dating back to the year of 1350 - is located right in the center of Geldrop. A beautiful English garden - created at the end of the 10th century - with some exotic trees surrounds the castle. Next to the castle lies the Bloemenhof , a stunning flower garden. The complex is delimited by a monumental wall. The first owners of Kasteel Geldrop were “Jan and Philip van Geldrop”, who probably built it in 1350. The following century the castle remained in the Van Geldrop family. The construction of the present day castle started in 1616, when “Amandus I van Horne” had the middle facade built. In 1768 the heirs of “Van Horne” sold the manor to “Adriaan van Sprangh”. The new Lord of Geldrop had the castle and living-tower renovated. In 1798 feudal rights ended with the French Revolution. The title of Lord of Geldrop became an empty one. In the 19th century the castle came into the hands of the “Hoevenaar” family. Under the ownership of “Sara Hoevenaar”, in 1840 the medieval living tower was demolished. During “Hubertus Hoevenaar” the castle got its present look. His daughter “Arnaudina” married baron “Van Tuyll van Serooskerken”. They lived in the castle permanently from 1912. Nowadays Kasteel Geldrop is used for weddings, concerts and exhibitions. The latter have limited openning hours. Since 30 December 1996 the Stichting Landgoed Kasteel Geldrop (a foundation) owns the castle, the outbuildings and the more than 11 hectares of parkland. Before that, the estate had been in the possession of the municipality of Geldrop (then not yet merged with Mierlo) for 22 years.

The Kruisherenklooster (Monastery of the Crosiers, formally known as the Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross) in Sint Agatha is dating back to 1315. In that year there was already a chapel dedicated to St. Agatha. Around 1371, some monks came to live near the chapel to attend it. The monastery of the Order of the Holy Cross arose from this little chapel. The monastery is still in use and is therefore the oldest monastery in the Netherlands still inhabited by clergy. From the 18th century onwards, the monastic garden was laid out. It is enclosed by a wall. It contains orchards, vegetable gardens and fish ponds, while until 1985 farm buildings were also located within the garden. A number of Crosiers practised gardening. The garden is also a reminder of religious matters. The boxwood hedges are cut in shapes like a cross on a globe, a snake, a ship and so on. The garden has an area of 2.5 ha and offers, apart from a lot of nice and colourful flowers, also a number of monumental trees, such as a 150-year-old tulip tree, a red and a green beech and an old oak. The monks were self-sufficient and for centuries lived largely off the proceeds of the land: a vegetable garden, fruit trees, fish ponds, chicken coops and beehives.

The construction of Kasteel Helmond (Castle Helmond) started around 1325. The castle was the replacement of an older castle, known as “ ‘t Oude Huys”, which was located hundreds of meters west. Kasteel Helmond was owned by several noble families, like the Berlaer, Cortenbach and Arberg family.In the year of 1781 the castle would fall into the hands of Frederik Carel Wesselman. The construction of the new castle took a long time. It was not until the end of the 17th century that it had roughly reached its present form. Kasteel Helmond , which originally served as a military defence fortress, came through the centuries relatively unscathed. However, there was a short siege during the Eighty Years' War by Prince Maurits van Oranje. In 1921, the castle was sold to the municipality of Helmond by the last Lady of the family Westerman under the stipulation that the castle would be used for the municipal administration or other public use. The Lady’s wishes were respected and the castle served as a town hall from 1923 until the 1970s. Very little remains of the original interior of the castle as the structure had continually been updated throughout history. A few stucco ceilings and several fireplaces are the only original features. Kasteel Helmond - the largest moated castle of the Netherlands - nowadays houses a museum, exhibiting the history of the castle and its owners. It also still hosts weddings.