Duiven between River Landscapes and Cultural Heritage

Duiven’s visitor attractions include nature reserves and hiking and cycling routes in Groessen and Loo. Along the trails, you can experience river landscapes and dikes, meadows and historic sites. The routes vary considerably in length and in the landscapes they pass through.

Hiking between the Rhine Landscape and Green Spaces

The DuivenPad is 6 km long and offers insights into Duiven. Information about the route and the leaflet were updated in 2024. The Kandiapad passes through the Rhine river landscape, over dikes, through the natural levee landscape and along church paths, as well as through floodplains. Cattle and Konik horses graze at the Jezuïetenwaai. Today, the waai is a river floodplain that provides space for nature to develop and is home to a wide variety of breeding birds.

The Husloapad also runs through the Rhine river landscape: over dikes, alongside waais, through floodplains and across meadows. Along the way, it passes Havezate Loowaard, which lies outside the dikes and originally dates back to the 15th century, before continuing to Horsterpark. The 16 km hiking trail “Knooppad 4: Along the Rhine and through the green spaces of Duiven” starts in Groessen and runs via Horsterpark and a green corridor to Duiven. Between Groessen and Loo, it passes several waais and the ferry to Huissen; the ferry offers an opportunity to explore the Overbetuwe hinterland.

If you want to compare route lengths, the DuivenPad covers 6 km, while Knooppad 4 covers 16 km. Horsterpark has a wooded area with well-laid-out walking and cycling paths. Facilities for children include a petting zoo, a playground and a gnome forest. A pond with a small hand-operated ferry adds to the park’s landscape.

Patersbosje offers a different impression of nature: this historic deciduous woodland lies on the edge of Duiven’s modern centre. The landscape around Groessen is characterised by meadows, orchards and old farmhouses. The routes described therefore alternate between river floodplains and open landscapes, wooded sections and settlements.

Cultural Heritage and Architectural History

In Groessen, Sint-Andreaskerk tells the story of several building phases. Its Romanesque tower dates from the first half of the 12th century; the Late Gothic nave was built around 1500. These two dates give the building a clearly legible historical character.

Huis Loowaard is also closely connected with the history of the Liemers: it is considered the largest havezate in the region. After a period of decline, it was restored in the 21st century. Herman inherited Loowaard and built his own castle there around 1560 with his wife, Digna van Isendoorn. Written records of Havezate de Magerhorst date back to around 1400. The house was built in the mid-16th century; its stair tower has a machicolation, described as rare in the Netherlands.

Huis Rijswijck in Groessen is a former havezate and a Rijksmonument. The site was first mentioned in 1328 and is one of the old fortified houses of the Liemers. The house is on private property and is not freely accessible to visitors. Huis De Beerenclaauw in Groessen offers another sightseeing opportunity: the Rijksmonument stands on the site of a former havezate; you can view its exterior and tower from the public road.

Annual Traditions

The Grote Omdracht in Groessen takes place every year on Trinity Sunday, the Sunday after Pentecost. Since the date changes from year to year, it is worth checking the date if you want to plan your visit around it. The Stichting Avondvierdaagse Duiven also organises an annual four-day walking event in Duiven, Groessen and Loo. Participants can choose from three different route lengths. Before making plans, check the latest event dates and, for the Avondvierdaagse, the registration details.

Discover more destinations: Duiven, Groessen, Culemborg, Ede, Ubbergen, Groesbeek, Scherpenzeel, Beuningen.

Return to the main travel overview: Gelderland.