Oude Warande, Star-shaped forest park in Tilburg, Netherlands
Oude Warande is a star-shaped forest park in Tilburg with eight straight lanes radiating from a central point across about 70 hectares of woodland. The geometric pattern defines the entire space, creating a clear structure that guides visitors through different sections.
The park was commissioned in 1712 by Willem VIII van Hessen-Kassel and remains one of the few surviving star forests in the Netherlands. This geometric plantation from the 1700s has endured to the present day, reflecting the garden design principles of its era.
Art exhibitions with sculptures from international artists appear throughout the park since 2000, turning the forest into an open-air gallery for visitors to discover. These installations blend into the natural surroundings, creating unexpected encounters while walking the paths.
The park can be accessed through entrances on Bredaseweg and Zwartvenseweg, with paths connecting the Reeshof district to central Tilburg areas. The level trails work well for walkers and cyclists who want to move between different neighborhoods using the forest routes.
The park is home to Siberian ground squirrels that are descendants of animals once kept at Tilburg Zoo, living alongside native red squirrels throughout the forest. Visitors may spot these unusual rodents while walking through the woods.
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