Discover Haldern: History and Landscapes

Haldern combines historic buildings with landscapes for walking and cycling. In the town, sights range from churches and houses to a late medieval tower; the surrounding area also includes a chapel and Haus Aspel. Woodlands, heathland, and an old branch of the Rhine add their own character. This lets you explore Haldern according to different interests, whether your focus is cultural history or outdoor activities.

Churches, Houses, and Historic Sites

Haldern’s sights include the Catholic parish church of St. George, the Protestant church dating from 1783, the Wesendonk House from the early 19th century, the Doppeladler inn from the 19th century, and the late medieval Battenberg Tower. The selection spans two churches, a house and an inn, and a medieval building. Access may vary at some buildings.

The wider historic area around Haldern includes Haus Aspel, with its landscape park and medieval motte, as well as Schledenhorst Chapel, with a historically significant group of figures depicting the Crucifixion from around 1500. This shifts the focus from the buildings in town to other historical features: at Haus Aspel, the park and motte form part of the overall picture, while the Crucifixion group gives the chapel its own distinctive character.

Woodlands, Heathland, and Waterscapes

Sonsfeld Forest and the neighboring Klosterheide and Wittenhorst Heath offer landscapes for walking and cycling; visible dunes are among their features. The nearby Hagener or Sonsfelder Meer presents a different type of landscape: it is an old branch of the Rhine, bordered by meadows, pastures, and pollarded willows. Comparing these landscapes, you’ll find dunes as a distinctive feature in the forest and heathland, while the banks, grassland, and trees shape the character described along the old branch of the Rhine.

Two cycling connections are specifically named. The Sonsfeld–Haffen cycle route connects Haldern with Haffen. Another cycle route runs around Reeser Meer and connects to the Sonsfeld–Haffen route at Alt-Sonsfeld. The first description names the connection between Haldern and Haffen; the second describes a route around Reeser Meer connecting near Alt-Sonsfeld. Construction or maintenance work may temporarily affect cycling infrastructure; check the route before setting out.

More to Explore in the Wider Rees Destination

The city’s history adds another dimension to the wider Rees destination. Rees lies directly on the Rhine. Its historic city fortifications comprise six successive defensive systems dating from the 12th to the 18th century, built by four European nations. Rees was granted city status by the Archbishop of Cologne on 14 July 1228. In the 15th century, Rees was a Hanseatic city with Hanseatic trade links and an alliance with cities in the eastern Netherlands. The Städtisches Koenraad Bosman Museum Rees focuses on art and city history.

The routes in the wider Rees destination also offer different perspectives. The Planet Trail on the Lower Rhine combines a walk through the Lower Rhine landscape with information about the Sun and planets; the Planetary Walk in Rees depicts the solar system at a scale of 1:1 billion. A roughly 22 km planetary route starts at the sculpture park in Rees and follows the first Planet Trail on the Lower Rhine to the dike, then along the cycle path to Rees-Mehr. The route length is approximate; check for possible detours before setting out. For more cycling trips, Rees and the surrounding area have 19 signposted routes ranging from 17 to 140 km. They run within the Rees municipal area, into the surrounding area, and to neighboring towns.

Discover more destinations: Kevelaer, Kalkar, Straelen, Weeze, Goch, Kleve, Uedem, Appeldorn.

Back to the main travel overview: Kleve.