History of the Kempen
Step into the story
Take a journey through time in Eersel and De Kempen
Delve into the rich history of Eersel and De Kempen. From the first settlers and ancient trade routes to the Teuten, the cigar industry and the traces that are still visible in the landscape: the history of our region tells a remarkable story.
Canon of the Kempen
Did you know that the story of our beautiful region began hundreds of thousands of years ago? The Canon of De Kempen takes you on a bird's-eye view of time: from the first inhabitants who roamed here some 250,000 years before Christ to the dynamic region we know today. Discover how the 'Teuten' traded, how the cigar industry put the Kempen on the map and what traces history has left in the landscape around Eersel.
Fancy having a look? - Let’s take a trip down memory lane!
Do you know these merchants?
Teuten
The Teuten were itinerant traders from the Kempen region who, from the 17th century onwards, sought their fortune far beyond their own village. From places such as Eersel, Bergeijk, Luyksgestel, Lommel and Hamont, they travelled to destinations including Germany and Denmark to trade in goods such as copperware, textiles or human hair for wigs. What began as a response to poverty developed into well-organised trading networks, often within families or Teuten guilds. With the money they earned, the Teuten built stately homes and farms back home, traces of which can still be seen in the Kempen today.
