Experience the Best Hiking and Cycling Holiday in the Achterhoek from Your Holiday Home in Winterswijk!

Looking for the perfect base for hiking and cycling adventures in the Netherlands? A holiday in Winterswijk offers endless opportunities for long or short explorations through a patchwork landscape of rolling fields, forests, meadows, and streams! This nature area even has a name: National Landscape Winterswijk! Every cycling or walking route in the region can be combined with charming attractions like castles, watermills, and countryside cafés!

Hiking Around Your Holiday Home in Winterswijk

The Achterhoek region proves that you don't have to travel far for a fantastic walking holiday! Want to discover all the hidden gems this area has to offer? Then a holiday home in Winterswijk is the place to be!

Bekendelle Walking Route

Stroll along a babbling brook through one of the Netherlands’ ancient forests. In Bekendelle Nature Reserve, an alder forest crisscrossed by the winding Boven Slinge, you’ll find logs lying across the water—a sign you’re in a protected primeval forest. Even the starting point is special! Purple trail markers lead you from Berenschot’s Watermill, a picturesque spot with a terrace overlooking the turning mill and flowing water. Just note: after rainfall, some areas may flood—bring old shoes or boots!

Hike Through Gossink Estate

On the edge of Winterswijk, a trail lets you explore the many faces of the Gossink estate. One of the first sights you’ll encounter is the Willingbeek stream, flowing freely through the countryside. A little further, you’ll reach the Ratumse Beek, which guides you through a leafy forest. Later, you’ll follow winding sandy paths through farmland and past historic “Scholten” farms. Tip: stop at the picnic tables at Hesselink Vineyard and soak in the rural charm!

Scholten Trail Winterswijk–Aalten

If you're hiking between Winterswijk and Aalten, you're following part of the Scholten Trail, a large circular walking route around Winterswijk. This route leads you to both Berenschot’s and Olliemollie’s watermills. Along the way, you’ll wander along narrow, winding paths through forests and fields dotted with grazing cows.

Cycling Through the Scenic Achterhoek Landscape

In Winterswijk’s tranquil and varied landscape, you’ll find a wealth of cycling routes full of surprises and ever-changing views. Cycling around Winterswijk is the perfect way to experience the Achterhoek’s “coulisse” landscape. Country roads, sandy lanes, and winding paths offer one scenic view after another, occasionally accompanied by a lazy stream. Looking for interesting stops? Visit friendly Lichtenvoorde for ice cream or drinks on a terrace, explore book-town Bredevoort, or tour the museum that was once Piet Mondrian’s home.

Cross the Border from Your Holiday Home in Winterswijk!

From your holiday home in Winterswijk, it's easy to cross into Germany—by bike or even on foot. One of the nearest towns is Vreden, home to an open-air museum showcasing rural life in the 19th and 20th centuries. Don’t miss the Zwillbrock nature reserve either! There, you can witness an impressive gathering of flamingos along a peat lake. Staying near Groenlo? Hop on your bike to explore the area or walk the path that marks the border. On one side, you'll see Dutch meadows and farmland; on the other, the German peatlands. The trail starts at Hotel zum Kloppendiek in Zwillbrock.

Cycling Route Isselburg – ’s-Heerenberg

For another cross-border highlight, cycle to the German town of Isselburg to visit the impressive Wasserburg Anholt castle. Surrounded by a wide moat, this large castle complex has two main parts and is well worth the ride. Wander through its vast gardens before heading back. Got extra time? Extend your ride into the Netherlands again via ’s-Heerenberg and visit one of the most beautiful moated castles in the Achterhoek. Enjoy the surrounding greenery and reward yourself with a break at Café-Restaurant Heeren Dubbel, just opposite the castle.

Visit Tea Gardens During Your Stay in Winterswijk

What could be better than stopping at flowery tea gardens and cozy spots on a sunny day? The National Landscape Winterswijk is well-prepared for hikers and cyclists, with plenty of farm terraces, tea gardens, and picnic areas. Enjoy coffee and cake while admiring the flowers at the Bloemenkabinet near Winterswijk-Miste, relax in a hammock at Klein Paradijs in Brinkheurne, or try a traditional English scone at Theetuin de Linde in Winterswijk-Kotten. Want a peaceful break with a view of open fields? Enjoy the simple pleasure of a coffee in the sun at Weideterras Kötters!

Rent a Holiday Home in Winterswijk

Want to explore a landscape of streams, rolling fields, stately farms, meadows, forests, and peatlands? Rent a holiday home in Winterswijk and enjoy the natural and cultivated beauty of the Achterhoek! Every walk or ride takes you past idyllic spots like watermills and farm terraces. Many attractions are within cycling distance or just across the border in Germany. Wherever you walk or cycle, the scenery is always a treat—often with coffee and cake waiting in a cozy tea garden!