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Border crossing Belgium - Netherlands with a rich history of smuggling.

The Gerda Hoeve is the perfect place to replenish your energy with delicious ice cream. It's definitely worth slowing down and seeking out various traditional Dutch cattle breeds, including the Lakenvelder, Witterik, and Brandrode.

Interesting history... There is also a bench nearby to rest or eat something. Nice spot in the forest.

Beautiful piece of nature

The deforestation of the original oak-birch forest created sand drifts, resulting in the formation of inland dunes. In addition to heathland, forest slowly reappeared. This ensures that you can walk and play in the Wildertse dunes in a relief-rich and varied forest with several open spaces and heathland remnants. https://www.natuurenbos.be/natuurgebieden/achterste-en-wildertse-duintjes

The border area has always attracted many smugglers in the past. During the First World War, when Belgium was occupied by the Germans, the Netherlands remained neutral. Smuggling was at its peak at that time. The most famous smuggler in those days was Klaveren Vrouwke, the nickname for Geert Schrauwen from Rucphen. He was known for his many tricks and disguises with which he often put customs and military on the wrong track. However, on 5 May 1916, Schrauwen did not escape his fate and was shot dead near border post 238A, known as the ‘shit post’. The memory of Klaveren Vrouwke has remained alive in the region afterwards through the many anecdotes that were told about him. The nickname of the post is said to be due to the fact that customs officers relieved themselves here during the war.

From here you can find beautiful hiking trails and MTB trails and you can also easily get on your racing bike from this car park.

Suddenly there is a barrier and a red and white guardhouse. At this point you cross the border between the Netherlands and Belgium. Next to the house is a pole with a cross and the letters KV carved into it. This pole is known as the shit pole, because the customs officers relieved themselves behind this pole. KV stands for Klaveren Vrouwke. This is an alias of Geert Schrauwen from St. Willebrord. A master smuggler who was shot dead by the border guard at this location in 1916. He owed his nickname to his special way of working. Geert dressed up while smuggling. Often as a woman, because women were not frisked at that time. The shooting of a smuggler was striking. Most small-time smugglers got away with a fine and possibly a night in jail. In the case of major smuggling operations, a prison sentence of several months sometimes followed. But Geert Schrauwen was no angel. Before his smuggling activities, he was already involved in a robbery, and he was also suspected of a murder in Rijsbergen. Before he was shot dead, Het Klaveren Vrouwke was banished from the Netherlands because he allegedly stole an army uniform. Source: https://www.fietsnetwerk.nl/knooppunt/strontpaal-essen/