The peat that used to be cut in de Peel, was exported all over the world. At some places you can still see how hard the existence of the peat cutters was at the time. De Kempen has always been the centre of the Dutch cigar industry. You can still see here, how cigars were made according to traditional methods, but also how it is done now in the modern Agio factory.
In de Kempen, you find Nuenen, the village where the famous painter Vincent van Gogh lived and worked for some years. One of the paintings he painted here is the world-famous painting 'The Potato Eaters'. Several village centres and buildings in this region are listed as historic monuments or buildings. Revive the past by visiting one of the many regional museums, farms, (water) mills or typically Brabant villages. There are also several castles that are worth a visit.