Vorden

After arrival, you can take a short introductory ride around Vorden. You’ll pass the moated Castle Vorden, still inhabited by its owners but open to visitors. Next, cycle to Castle Hackfort (managed by Natuurmonumenten), featuring a walking forest, watermill, and historic kitchen garden. The coach house houses a brasserie. Follow the Baakse Beek stream back to the hotel.

You cycle to the ancient Hanseatic city of Zutphen, situated on the IJssel River. Its distinguished appearance is marked from afar by many towers. The atmospheric city center features winding streets, squares, courtyards, and numerous monuments. The Stedelijk Museum tells the story of Zutphen and the surrounding region of De Graafschap. Highlights include the St. Walburg Church with the Librije, the Nieuwstad Church, and parts of the city walls with a water gate over the Berkel River. The route can be extended with a loop through the bird- and flower-rich floodplains of the IJssel, which you cross by ferry.

An attractive route through beautiful deciduous forests, small hamlets, and the castle estate ’t Zelle to Ruurlo. The 14th-century Ruurlo Castle houses the second location of Museum MORE (Museum of Dutch Modern Realism), after Gorssel. These museums hold a top collection of Dutch artists such as Carel Willink, Pyke Koch, Charley Toorop, and others. Also surreal is the ‘cactus oasis’ just outside the village, featuring 600 cactus species. An extra loop takes you to the lordship of Borculo, a romantic small town with a crystal museum and a delightful terrace by the watermill. The return route passes the noble estates Wiersse and Medler, and the Kranenburg Museum of Religious Statues.

Along Castle Het Enzerinck and the forests of Warkensche Veld, you cycle to the village of Almen in the Berkel Valley. Near the 14th-century church stands a museum dedicated to the famous 19th-century romantic poet, agricultural expert, and castle lord A.C.W. Staring, who was deeply devoted to the regional history and folklore. After crossing the Twente Canal, you cycle through forest and heathland and pass a vineyard worth visiting before reaching the elegant village of Gorssel. The 100-year-old town hall was transformed into the Museum MORE for Modern Realism, featuring works by great Dutch artists, after a modern architectural extension. Continuing along bird-rich floodplains by the IJssel River, you head toward Zutphen. Passing the castles ‘Huize De Voorst’ (the Versailles of the Achterhoek), ‘Huize ’t Velde,’ and ‘Den Bramel’ (the haunted castle), you finally return to Vorden.

Through the forests and across the castle estate Velhorst by the Berkel River, you cycle to the small village of Laren. The highlight here is the visitable castle ‘Huis Verwolde’ with its beautiful garden. In the park forest stands “De Dikke Boom,” the thickest oak in the country. On your way to the fortified town of Lochem, you cross the ancient oak and beech forest of Havezathe Ampsen. In Lochem, the Gudula Church has proudly stood for 1100 years in the middle of the market square, beautifully surrounded by Renaissance houses and several inviting terraces. Passing under the Lochemse Hill and the belt mill of Zwiep, you cycle to the village of Barchem. On the way back to Vorden, you pass castle ‘De Wildenborch,’ once the residence of the 19th-century poet A.C.W. Staring.

Heading westward along the IJssel, you’ll visit the picturesque Bronkhorst, the smallest town in the Netherlands. Following a dike bike path with beautiful views, you trace the winding course of the IJssel to the striking Hanseatic city of Doesburg. Within its city walls, you can admire various medieval monuments and museums, including one dedicated to mustard. Next, you follow an old branch of the IJssel River to Laag-Keppel, a village with a watermill and castle. In Hummelo, the birthplace of the farmers’ rock band ‘Normaal,’ you’ll pass the bronze quartet. A peaceful rural route then leads you back to the hotel.