Gang of the White Feather

For generations the exciting story of the "Gang of the White Feather" has been told in the De Langstraat region. Experience the bicycle route that is dedicated to this saga. A great adventure near De Efteling and National Park De Loonse en Drunense Duinen!

The 'Gang of the White Feather' bike route is an exciting 43-kilometer bike route. You cycle past places where the gang members left their traces, such as the mysterious White Castle in Loon op Zand. The route also leads you through the beautiful National Park De Loonse en Drunense Duinen. Just watch this short video and head out!

The story of the White Feather Gang 
North Brabant circa 1720. The population has been under the yoke of Spanish and French occupying armies for years. Survival is the only thing that counts. A group of 'heydens', 'land walkers' and deserters form a loose gang and turn out to be the terror of the region. Farms and manors are not safe from their raids. Stolen goods and livestock are sold to local healers in exchange for clothing, food and weapons. Deep in the impenetrable area between Loon op Zand and 's-Gravenmoer, which was then close to the border with Holland, the gang hides in an encampment. The most notorious and cunning of them all is gang leader Swarte Johannes. No one knows what he really looks like, because Swarte Johannes is a master of disguises. Only the white feather on his hat is a sign that he is a member of the White Feather Gang.

Gang member Blommerantje is head over heels in love with Swarte Johannes. But he is married to another and Blommerantje, to her anger, is merely his "sidekick. She secretly makes a sandstone head of Swarte Johannes which she carries with her day and night, just in case he is with his wife or on a rampage. Today this head adorns the facade of the Ravensbosch Hoeve. How it might have ended up there, you will discover on this tour.

The gang's crimes go from bad to worse. The ambitious drossaard (in those times an administrative official) Otto Juyn is sent to the area to bring order. He begins a relentless manhunt for the gang members and healers. With his men, he rolls up the encampment. Swarte Johannes manages to escape, but the remaining gang members, including Blommerantje, end up in prison. They are harshly interrogated to uncover the truth, and most of them end up on the gallows. The cunning Swarte Johannes evades arrest by constantly crossing the border into Holland. He knows Otto Juyn can't do anything to him there. Until one night he makes a huge mistake. In the pitch dark, Swarte Johannes steals a pig, which he loads onto a boat to cross the stream the Donge. But the pig screams murder. Otto Juyn and his men follow the shrill sounds and wait silently at the border post on the bank. As soon as the boat lands in Brabant, they pick up Swarte Johannes.

Otto Juyn suspects he has a gang member in front of him because of the white feather on the hat. But he cannot prove it. Swarte Johannes claims to have found the pig. In his knapsack they find a crowbar and a pistol, but Swarte Johannes says these are a gift from the blacksmith Adriaan Coenen of Dongen. Otto Juyn goes to Adriaan Coenen, who confirms that he has indeed given the crowbar and pistol to an unknown man. The drossard thinks this is a strange story. When his men search the blacksmith's house, they find all sorts of stolen items. These are stored in the church of Dongen and the blacksmith ends up there under lock and key. In the end, as a fence, he receives the noose. Swarte Johannes disappears into the dungeon of Het Witte Kasteel, where he is harshly interrogated for a year. He tells many lies and chunks of truth. But Otto Juyn has no hard evidence that he belongs to the White Feather Gang. Release is imminent.

When Blommerantje is transferred to Het Witte Kasteel, she recognizes the voice of Swarte Johannes. Embittered because she never came first for him, Blommerantje smells her chance for revenge. In exchange for her own release, she offers Otto Juyn the sandstone head: "If the man you have in there looks just like this head, then you have Swarte Johannes to deal with." And so Blommerantje goes free. Swarte Johannes eventually confesses to sixty crimes. He ends up on the gallows and his corpse is taken to Galgeneind. Thus ends the biggest gang Brabant has ever known. Otto Juyn donates the sandstone head to the farmer from whom the pig was stolen. Because thanks to this pig, Swarte Johannes was caught. And that is how the head came to be on the façade of Ravensbosch.Farmhousejustified.

But the stories persisted and still wander around like a memory. For example, anyone entering the area will hear about The Gang of the White Feather. There are whispers that the ghosts of Swarte Johannes, Blommerantje, Lucretia de Heydinne, Capiteyn Alewijn Aertappel and Luytenant Peldertje still wander here. And if you find a white feather on the trail ... it could just be that they were very close by.

Information about the bicycle route
This bicycle route is 43 kilometers long and is plotted via the official bicycle junctions. The bicycle route starts and ends at De Zwammenberg (Zijstraat 20, De Moer). There you will find parking and catering facilities. The route brochure is available free of charge at the Tourist Information Points in De Langstraat.

Meet the gang members?
Enjoy special products and activities inspired by the White Feather Gang saga at hospitality locations along the bike route. How about special beer named after the gang members, a delicious gallows meal, tours or pen feather making workshops? For more information, visit www.bendevandewitteveer.nl.