Wilhelminapark

Wilhelminapark is one of the best known parks in Tilburg, a city in North Brabant that grew up around the wool industry, and it lies close to the centre. It has been a public park for a long time, with its beginnings in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and in recent years the city celebrated its age with a festival marking its 125th anniversary. Like many parks of that period, it was laid out to give a growing industrial city a place for walking and fresh air, with lawns, mature trees and winding paths. It is well kept and well used, and it is open at all hours and free to enter.

The park is more than a green space, because it also acts as a stage for cultural events, particularly at weekends. A programme of activities has included visual art exhibitions in the open air, accordion concerts, music from various cultures and creative activities for children, such as a fairy-tale route and a treehouse-building project. Many of these events are free, which makes them popular with families and local residents, and they bring different neighbourhoods together. Large festivals take place here, and the park's anniversary celebrations connected communities across the city. A visit at a weekend in spring or summer is likely to find something going on, though the programme varies, so check the city's events calendar.

On an ordinary day, the park is a pleasant place for a stroll or a picnic. The lawns and the shade of mature trees give relief in summer, and in spring the flowers and blossom lift the mood. Birds are numerous, and playgrounds and benches are found along the paths. Jogging, dog walking and cycling are popular, and the paths are mostly flat and easy.

Tilburg has more to offer beyond the park. The TextielMuseum, in a former wool factory, is the city's best known cultural attraction, with a working textile lab and displays on the industry that shaped the town. The Sint-Brigidakerk, St. Brigid's Church, stands in the centre, the Markt is the main square, and Tilburg University's campus and the other parks of the city, such as the Stadspark and the Oude Warande woodland, are within reach. The city is known for its festivals and its lively cultural life, including the Roadburn music festival.

The park suits families, walkers and those who want to see how local people spend their free time. It is easily reached by public transport and on foot from the station, and it makes a pleasant break during a day in Tilburg. Allow an hour or so for a walk.