This 'royal backyard' is one of the oldest pine forests in the Netherlands with over 500 years of history, second only to the Wouwse Plantage as the oldest cultural forest in the country. Count Hendrik III of Nassau had the forest planted in 1515 with seeds from the Scots pine trees from Nuremberg, Germany. The Mastbos functioned as a production forest, with the wood being used for the renovation of Breda Castle, for the Spanish fleet, and later for the masts of ships belonging to the Dutch East India Company. The Nassau family also used it as a hunting ground.

The ancient forest is home to a great wealth of trees, plants, and animals. Open beech avenues, extensive heath fields, dark pine forests, and idyllic ponds alternate with each other.
If you look closely, you may see squirrels jumping or spot a pine marten or roe deer. At the large pond, you might even have a chance encounter with a great egret or spoonbill.

State Forestry Commission has mapped out various hiking trails in the Mastbos, including a four-kilometre Sniffing Route for dog lovers. Dogs are welcome in the Mastbos, as long as they are on a leash. To the north of the Bouvignedreef, there is a piece of forest where your dog can walk free.  

Are you going to the Mastbos forest with children? Let gnome Daantje guide you along the 1.5 kilometre long Gnome Path. You can recognise the route by 25 wooden gnomes, but the route description also contains fun facts and assignments.
The route starts at Restaurant de Boswachter. You can also download the route description.

Tip: Playforest de Boeverijen is the place where children can climb huts, scramble, build huts and have fun messing around with sand and water. You can find this part of the Mastbos forest on Bouvignedreef.  

Part of the lanes in the Mastbos are suitable for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility. In honour of the 500th anniversary of the Mastbos, Staatsbosbeheer had a boardwalk constructed in the southern part of the forest, offering a beautiful view of the heathlands. Tip: don't forget your camera, as the Boardwalk in the Mastbos is one of the most photographed spots in Breda!

Note: The decking path is currently closed. It is partially flooded. Moreover, even when the weather is dry, there are unsafe sections.  

In the Mastbos it is no longer allowed to park in the verges.

Here you will find parking areas:

• Between Restaurant Bouvigne Paradijs (Bouvignelaan 3) and Kasteel Bouvigne
• Car park Brabantse Delta Water Board (Bouvignelaan 5).
• At CR de Boswachter (Huisdreef 4)
• In front of Hotel Mastbos/Grand Café Heeren van Oranje, corner of Huisdreef / Burg. Kerstenslaan
• At Grand Café de Kogelvanger (Galderseweg 55), on-site parking
• At Pannenkoekenhuis Dennenlucht (Heistraat 15)
• On Stouwdreef there are five spaces for people with disabilities
• At AV Sprint (Burg. de Manlaan)