Groesbeek: Wine, Trails and Nature

Vineyards, hiking trails and natural areas give a trip to Groesbeek a range of different focuses. Those exploring the area can plan their stay around winegrowing and tasting, combine culture and landscape on the trails, or head for specific destinations in Groesbeek, Berg en Dal and the Millingerwaard.

Winegrowing and a tour in Groesbeek

Groesbeek has about 25 hectares of vineyards and six winegrowers. The WijnBoerTour passes vineyards and wine farms in the Groesbeek area. It starts at the Nederlands Wijnbouwcentrum, where a wine tasting featuring Groesbeek wines and suitable local specialties is offered. Check the current offering before making specific plans based on it.

There are two ways to include winegrowing in your trip: the route connects vineyards and wine farms in the Groesbeek area, while the tasting at the starting point pairs the flavor of Groesbeek wines with local specialties. This offers a concrete starting point for planning your day if you would like to focus on wine and regional produce.

Hiking trails with different focuses

Two hiking trails are each two kilometers long, but offer different highlights. The Wandelroute Grens leads to the summit of the Duivelsberg and to Motte Mergelpe. The Familiepad Duivelsberg runs through the Duivelsberg woodland in Berg en Dal. It has only slight elevation changes and is suitable for families with different fitness levels and age groups.

Remains of the outer bailey are still visible at Motte Mergelpe. The site is an artificial castle mound with ditches and an earthen rampart. Those interested in this historic site can combine it with the Wandelroute Grens; the Familiepad, by contrast, focuses on the route through the woodland.

In the village of Berg en Dal, the Poëziepad is a bench route with 16 benches; nine of them have poetry plaques. The N70 nature hiking route crosses eight hills and offers views of polders, floodplains and the river landscapes of the Waal and Rhine. Green posts mark its route. Another themed walk is the Ommetje Heerlijkheid Beek: it focuses on the architectural styles of the villas in the village of Beek and the historic villas on the outskirts of Berg en Dal.

Nature in the Millingerwaard and the Gelderse Poort

The Millingerwaard is a nature reserve in the municipality of Berg en Dal and part of the Gelderse Poort National Landscape. At about 800 hectares, it encompasses woodland, marshes, meadows and bodies of water. The variety of landscapes gives the area its varied character. Canoeing is possible in the Millingerwaard; check current availability before planning this activity.

Beavers have been released in the Millingerwaard; the Purple Emperor butterfly and the parti-coloured bat have also been observed there. The information about the animals refers to different areas: around 160 Konik horses and 120 Galloway cattle live in the wider Gelderse Poort. Along the Boerenlandpaden, landowners open working farmland to hikers. Check local guidance about access before setting out.

The N70 also offers its own views of the landscape, including polders, floodplains and the river landscapes of the Waal and Rhine. When choosing a route, you can therefore pick between a trail with named viewpoints, a woodland trail with little elevation change, and a hike with a historic destination.

Culture and practical information

The Vrijheidsmuseum in Groesbeek explores the Second World War and the theme of freedom from several perspectives, including Operations Market Garden and Veritable. In Berg en Dal, the Roman aqueduct recalls the water supply to Nijmegen: it was built to carry water there. The Romans also drilled for water in Berg en Dal to supply their military camps.

For a trip on the Grenzland Draisine, the route between Groesbeek, Kranenburg and Kleve follows a former railway line. Wheelchair users can travel if they register in advance when booking. Berg en Dal can be explored on foot or by bike; bicycles can be rented at Nijmegen station. Berg en Dal is also easily accessible by public transport.

If you are looking for a hotel in Groesbeek, it is best to organize your plans around the specific destinations: the WijnBoerTour and the Vrijheidsmuseum are associated with Groesbeek, several trails and the aqueduct with Berg en Dal, and the Millingerwaard with the municipality of Berg en Dal. When choosing where to stay, you can take into account which of these experiences is most important for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Groesbeek, Berg En Dal, Heilig Landstichting, Lingewaal, Millingen Aan De Rijn, Wageningen, Heumen, Duiven.

For the overview of the wider area: Gelderland.