Rees on the Rhine – History and riverside routes

Rees lies directly on the Rhine and combines a clearly defined riverside setting with a long history as a town. There are two perspectives to consider when choosing a destination: the historic traces in the town center and the walking, cycling, and boating options along the water. If you are planning a stay, this can help you decide in advance whether your main interest is town history, a trip on the Rhine, or exploring by bike. Information on cycling tours ranges from individual routes in Rees and its surroundings to county-level information for the wider Kleve destination.

Rhine Promenade and Riverside Routes

From the Rees Rhine promenade, you can cross to the opposite bank of the Rhine by passenger ferry. Alternatively, trips on the Rhine depart from there aboard the passenger boats “Stadt Rees” and “Germania.” The ferry and passenger boats offer two different ways to include the water in your day’s plans: a crossing or a trip on the river. Check the relevant timetables before making plans so you can schedule your preferred crossing or boat trip.

Town History, Fortifications, and Museum

Rees was granted town status by the Archbishop of Cologne on July 14, 1228. In the 15th century, Rees engaged in Hanseatic trade; in its alliance with towns in the eastern Netherlands, Rees bore the title of Hanseatic town. The historic town fortifications comprise six successive defensive systems dating from the 12th to the 18th century, built by four European nations. Their long history makes the fortifications an interesting subject for anyone interested in the development of defensive structures.

The Städtisches Koenraad Bosman Museum Rees focuses on art and town history. Beneath the museum building is a casemate built around 1500 for lighter artillery. A guided tour of the historic town center offers another way to learn about Rees’s history: “In the Footsteps of the Oldest Town on the Lower Rhine” provides a general introduction to the town’s history, as well as information about sights and monuments. On September 24, 2026, the tour was listed in the current official program; dates and booking arrangements may change. The Rees Sculpture Park is free to visit.

Planet Trails and Cycling Tours

The Planet Walking Trail in Rees depicts the solar system to a scale of 1:1 billion. The Planet Trail on the Lower Rhine combines a walk through the Lower Rhine landscape with information about the sun and planets. The approximately 22 km Planet Route begins at the sculpture park in Rees. It follows the first Planet Trail on the Lower Rhine onto the dike, then continues along the cycle path to Rees-Mehr. Before setting out, check for any temporary diversions.

There are also 19 signposted cycling tours in Rees and the surrounding area, ranging from 17 to 140 km in length. The routes pass through the Rees municipal area, the surrounding region, and neighboring towns. For cycling plans, comparing distances provides a useful guide: the Planet Route is about 22 km long, while the signposted cycling tours span a total range of 17 to 140 km.

Cycling Information for the Wider Kleve Destination

The wider Kleve destination also offers information at county level. This regional planning level should be distinguished from the 19 cycling tours in Rees and its surroundings. Kleve County has more than 1,500 kilometers of cycle routes and numerous themed routes. A pocket guide shows all the junctions in Kleve County when unfolded and includes helpful information about how the county-wide junction system works.

The 128-kilometer Niers Cycle Route also offers an overview of the wider region: the signposted route runs from the source of the Niers in Mönchengladbach, through Viersen and Kleve counties, to the municipality of Gennep in the Netherlands. The local cycling tours and county-wide route information thus describe different scales for planning.

Discover more destinations: Bedburg-Hau, Uedem, Issum, Goch, Kevelaer, Emmerich Am Rhein, Kerken, Wachtendonk.

Go to the wider travel overview: Kleve.