History of The Langstraat

De Langstraat is the name used for centuries to designate the central area in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It originated from a dike built after the St. Elisabeth Flood, from east to west through a swampy landscape located between the Meuse River and the higher sandy grounds. Along this, farmers settled and a ribbon of settlements developed. For centuries, from the 13th to 17th centuries, peat extraction was the main source of income here. Farmers reclaimed the land in long strips, separated by ditches or hedges, perpendicular to the dike; the so-called slagen landscape. Due to the regular flooding of the outer polders, the grass was of extremely firm quality and until the 19th century hay farming played an important role in the region. With the golden trinity (cattle, forests of oaks and running water) within reach, a flourishing shoe and leather industry developed in De Langstraat in the 18th century. Since the decline of shoe production, the region was forced to change direction. In 1933, a sports park was built in the village of Kaatsheuvel. This was the basis for the Efteling, which has grown into the largest amusement park in the Benelux. Partly due to the growth of Efteling, De Langstraat is now strongly focused on leisure.