Discover Neuenhaus: town history and trails

Neuenhaus combines traces of the town’s history with activities on foot, by bike and on the water. The town hall and Mühlenkolk reflect different aspects of local history; the Neuenhaus Stiegengang trail adds a circular route and QR-code stops to the story of the town’s history and architecture.

Town hall, Mühlenkolk and guided town walks

Mühlenkolk in Neuenhaus once served as a harbour. The town hall, which is more than 200 years old, shows Dutch architectural influences and is used for readings, concerts and exhibitions. The town hall thus brings architectural history together with today’s cultural offerings.

Guided town walks offer historical, cultural and anecdotal perspectives, as well as insights into Jewish life. The 2026 town tour programme covers these topics; dates and availability may change. Check the specific dates before making plans.

Exploring on foot and by bike

The Neuenhaus Stiegengang is a 3.91-kilometre circular route rated very easy. At 20 stops, you can use your smartphone and a QR code to access information about local history and architecture. The digital content may be updated, and route details may also change. So check the latest information before setting out.

Those wishing to add a commemorative focus to the route can include seven Stolpersteine and a historical arch. The arch recalls the stories and fate of Jewish families in the Niedergrafschaft during the Nazi era. This addition draws attention to Jewish life stories and their commemoration.

The Dinkelstein Route can also be explored by bike. Four amateur artists from Neuenhaus and Nordhorn took part in the route and contributed sculptures. It combines cycling with an artistic element; however, it is a different kind of outing from the themed circular route through Neuenhaus.

The Dinkel, the ferry and canoe trips

The Vechte, Dinkel and Lee rivers shape the water and mill landscape of the Neuenhaus collective municipality. One special way to cross the Dinkel is the hand-operated “Haal over” ferry, which carries visitors and cyclists from one bank to the other. The crossing is 72 metres long. Up to twelve people can travel together with their bikes. Check the current operating times before setting off.

You can reach the ferry landing by car or bike; on foot, follow the foot and cycle path behind Dinkelbad Neuenhaus. You can therefore choose between the stated ways of reaching the landing. Canoe trips also start from the boathouse at Dinkelsee, which is used by Wassersportfreunde Neuenhaus e. V.

Families can also cool off after a bike ride or hike at Dinkelbad. Check whether the facility is available before visiting.

Neuenhaus in its regional setting

In the wider Grafschaft Bentheim destination, heathland, raised and lowland bogs, wooded ridges and the Vechte river valley alternate. At the level of the Neuenhaus collective municipality, the Vechte, Dinkel and Lee rivers shape the water and mill landscape.

Tourists staying overnight in Grafschaft Bentheim can also use the Grafschafter Gästekarte: it allows them to travel free of charge on buses and trains throughout the district. Check the applicable conditions before travelling. The Bad Bentheim–Neuenhaus rail section was reopened to passenger traffic in 2019.

Discover more destinations: Laar, Bad Bentheim, Hoogstede, Wielen, Uelsen, Getelo, Itterbeck, Georgsdorf

Back to the regional travel overview: Grafschaft Bentheim.