"Bladel, the village that my father was... " a Bladel Travel Page by Pavlik_NL

In the Southern part of Northern Brabant, just some kilometres from the Belgian border, Bladel is a typical village of the "Kempen". Small centre, surrounded by wide and intensive agricultural land. Historically seen a neighborhood center, surrounded by the "zeven Selligheden (Zaligheden)" (= zeven merry places), to know as "Eersel" (also known as the pearl of them), Knegsel, Steensel, Reusel, Wintelre (used to be Wintersel), Netersel en Hulsel. Some say that "Sterksel" is the eightest "Selligheit", some disagree in that. Anyway, Bladel can be found in a wonderful Brabant landscape and hides itself also a few treasure.

The "Kempen" are situated on relatively poor soils (sand), but have been since centuries one huge agricultural society. Mixed farming (both cattling as arable land) can still be found in the surroundings of Bladel. Modern farmhouses are now side by side with large old "hoeves" (old farmhouses), some with huge straw roofs. Parcels are relatively small, even now the scale-increasing has found it's way in The Netherlands.

Bladel, my grandparents lived here all their lives and my heritage here goes back even four centuries. My great-great-great-great (etc) grandfather was a agricultural tax accounant and one of his grandsons would even make it to the mayor of the district. My father was born in Bladel, as well as his ten sisters and brothers (yes, we're talking about good Catholic families in these neighborhoods and times). more about them you can find in the travellogues.