Emlichheim: Forest, Sound Path and Themed Cycling Routes

Emlichheim combines riverside walks with sensory experiences and themed cycling routes. Local highlights include the Denne woodland area on the Vechte, the Sound Path opposite the VVV, and the oil-themed cycling route. The historic, renovated Haus Ringerbrüggen behind the town hall also helps shape the townscape. These different features give you ideas for how to plan your stay.

Walks and experiences in town

The small Denne woodland area lies right beside the Vechte in Emlichheim and is ideal for longer walks. Here, the focus is on getting around on foot; the cycling routes in and around the town have different thematic focuses. Haus Ringerbrüggen is behind the town hall and has been renovated. The TOP Emlichheim, a “tourist information point,” is located at the house.

The Sound Path, which invites you to test your senses, is opposite the VVV. There is a boules court next to the VVV. This puts two different leisure ideas side by side: a path where you can test your senses and a court for playing boules. Together with Denne and the historic house, they offer different starting points for a stay that is not focused solely on cycling tours.

Cycling with different themes

The 32-kilometre Oil Route is a cycling route in the Emlichheim Joint Municipality that focuses on oil. It leads from the centre of Emlichheim to the oil field and continues across a weir on the Dutch side of the oil field. Its theme and the route described give the tour a clear focus. Check current route conditions before setting off.

Another option is the Border Route: it leads from Emlichheim through the Vechte valley near Echteler and Heesterkante. On the kunstwegen route, you can experience sculptures and installations from your bicycle. The cycling options described therefore differ in focus: oil on the Oil Route, the route through the Vechte valley on the Border Route, and art on the kunstwegen route. These differences can help you choose a tour that suits you.

Emlichheim within the wider destination of Grafschaft Bentheim

Across the wider destination of Grafschaft Bentheim, heathland, raised and low-lying bogs, wooded ridges and the Vechte river valley alternate. Itterbecker Heide is a nature reserve covering around 85 hectares. This variety of landscapes describes Grafschaft Bentheim as a whole and complements the picture of local walking and cycling options in Emlichheim.

Kunstwegen also offers a regional perspective: in Grafschaft Bentheim, it is an open-air museum for contemporary art, nature and history. The route stretches for more than 180 kilometres through the Vechte valley, with more than 80 sculpture projects along the way. For cyclists, this adds a broader connection to art and landscape to the local tour themes.

The main route of the Grafschafter Fietsentour is on a different scale. It is about 220 kilometres long and passes through all the municipalities in the district. This makes it possible to distinguish a single themed tour from a route that covers Grafschaft Bentheim as a whole. Here too, it is advisable to check current route conditions before setting off.

Planning and finding accommodation

The Oil Route, the Border Route and the kunstwegen route offer different thematic options, while Denne invites you to enjoy longer walks. This allows you to choose the activities that best match your travel interests.

For visitors staying overnight in Grafschaft Bentheim, the following applies: with the Grafschafter guest card, you can use buses and trains throughout the district free of charge. The offer’s conditions may change, so check them before your trip. This allows you to factor in regional travel planning, alongside local activities, when deciding on your stay.

Discover more destinations: Ringe, Laar, Schüttorf, Getelo, Wietmarschen, Itterbeck, Bad Bentheim, Engden

Go to the main travel overview: Grafschaft Bentheim.