Borculo between museums and the Berkel

Borculo combines museums and historic buildings with walks, bike rides and activities on the Berkel. If you are looking for a hotel in Borculo, you can shape your stay around these interests: local cultural history, routes through the surrounding area, or time on and by the water.

Cultural history and museums

The Brandweermuseum Borculo is one of the two largest fire service museums in the Netherlands. The Stormrampenmuseum is part of the Brandweermuseum. It is dedicated to the cyclone that struck Borculo around a century ago and devastated the entire town.

At Museum De Lebbenbrugge, you can learn about a 15th-century farmhouse, as well as a hunting lodge, an inn and a customs farmhouse dating from the 16th century. The double watermill in Borculo consists of two separate watermills dating from 1700.

The Borculo Synagogue was built in 1877 and is now a small museum and a venue for concerts, workshops and readings. The programme may change; if you are planning to attend an event, check the latest dates. The Kristalmuseum displays a collection of gemstones, minerals and fossils.

In chronological order, the historic buildings date from the 15th and 16th centuries at De Lebbenbrugge, to the double watermill from 1700, and then to the synagogue built in 1877. This also lets you distinguish the buildings by when they were constructed.

The Berkel, routes and water

The Berkel flows through Borculo; walks connect the town with the river and the surrounding countryside. The Borculo photo route is 2 kilometres long, takes about 40 minutes and leads to picturesque spots in the town. With its set distance and approximate duration, the route can be planned as a short walk while exploring the town.

From Borculo, cycling routes follow the Berkel and pass through the surrounding countryside, with its meadows, forests, farms and small hamlets. During the sailing season, from early April to the end of October, sightseeing trips on the Berkel are offered aboard the wooden, flat-bottomed Jappe. The Jappe is a quiet replica of the former Berkelzomp; the boatmen share information about the history of shipping on the Berkel. Seasonal details may change, so check the current schedule before planning a trip.

Passengers with reduced mobility can use a lifting platform on the Berkelzomp in Borculo. Just outside Borculo are the Meren van Borculo, also known as Hambroekplas. This recreational area consists of three lakes and offers opportunities for swimming, fishing, stand-up paddling and walking in natural waters.

Planning your stay

Toeristische Informatie Borculo at Muraltplein 31 provides information about attractions, walking and cycling routes, activities, events and museums. When planning your day, the routes differ in scope: the photo route has a set distance and an approximate duration, while the cycling routes take you through the surrounding countryside. This lets you choose between a clearly defined route around town and an outing through changing landscapes.

Discover more destinations: Rekken, Beltrum, Gelselaar, Eibergen, Ruurlo, Geesteren, Neede, Nederbiel

See the overview of the wider area: Berkelland.