Discover Heerde between the Veluwe and the IJssel

Heerde lies between Zwolle and Apeldoorn, on the northernmost edge of the Veluwe, with the IJssel to the east. Forests, heathland, river landscapes and historic country estates shape the area’s attractions. If you are looking for a hotel in Heerde, plan your trip around its main focus: hiking, cycling or cultural history. The landscapes and routes offer different ways to explore each of these.

Hiking through forests, heathland and floodplains

Landgoed Petrea near Heerde lies on the slopes of the Woldberg. Its landscape includes coniferous forest, heathland and avenues of oak and beech trees, making it suitable for hiking and cycling. Wild boar, roe deer and numerous bird species live in the area’s habitats. The Renderklippen is a hilly area of 223 hectares, with heathland and pine trees, crossed by several marked hiking and cycling routes. The Schaapskooi there is home to a flock of around 150 rare Veluwe Heath sheep, kept there from June to January; flock size can vary by season.

De Dellen also combines marked hiking trails with opportunities to observe nature: the area covers 454 hectares, and visitors may see wild boar, red deer, badgers and pine martens. In the Zwolse Bos, forests alternate with heathland and small moorland lakes. Animals that can be seen or heard there include green woodpeckers, tawny owls, ravens, wild boar and roe deer.

Around Wapenveld, the 13-kilometre Paddenpad connects the landscapes of the Veluwe and the IJssel Valley. The route passes through forests, alongside meadows, farms and drainage ditches, and through floodplain meadows; points of interest along the way include monuments, the Kloosterbos and the Klein Zwitserland heath. Flooding can affect access, so check trail conditions before setting out. The five Klompenpaden trails in Heerde, Veessen, Vorchten and Wapenveld run mainly along unpaved paths, across farmland and on historic routes. The 14-kilometre Vosbergenpad passes through Landgoed Vosbergen, by springs and former watermills, through streams and the Zwolse Bos, and on to the heath on the Tonnenberg.

Cycling routes and finding your way along the IJssel

An extensive cycle route network with numbered junctions stretches across the Veluwe and along the IJssel, and most routes use it. One cycle path follows the route of a former railway. Other cycle paths run along the dikes of the Hoogwatergeul from north to south through the municipality, offering wide views.

At Heerderstrand, a paved cycle path runs around the lake and westward towards the forests of De Dellen and the heathland of the Renderklippen. On foot, you can walk around the lake in about 45 minutes. Heerderstrand has a beach and clean bathing water; the lake covers more than 20 hectares. As water conditions can change, it is worth checking the latest information before swimming. The Wijheseveer ferry connects Wijhe and Heerde across the IJssel. It carries pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, cars and lorries weighing up to 25 tonnes; check the ferry times when planning your trip.

Country estates and the history of milling

The history of the historic Landgoed Bonenburg in Heerde dates back to the 17th century. The estate covers more than 75 hectares, much of which is open to the public as a walking area. The island on which the house stands is private. Several historic buildings stand on the historic Landgoed Vosbergen. Kasteel Vosbergen originally dates from the late 15th century and took its present form in 1623. Visitors can view the castle from all sides from the outer moat and walk through most of the estate. Guided walks are offered in summer; check in advance for specific dates.

At the Watermolen van Rakhorst, visitors can take a free, self-guided digital tour of the grounds and historic mill. Using a smartphone and QR codes, the route passes, among other things, a stream, a mill pond and the waterwheel. Independently of this tour, the Watermolencomplex has been a municipal monument since 2015. The mill site’s history goes back more than 500 years; it was first mentioned in 1499.

Museums and local culture

The Heerder Historisch Museum in Villa Jacoba displays art from Heerde, archaeological finds, a Beken- en Sprengenkamer and a historic notary’s office. At the Nederlands Zuivelmuseum in Wapenveld, children can, among other activities, milk a life-size cow, go on a farm treasure hunt and use a children’s milk laboratory. The interactive family museum has seasonal opening arrangements; check them when planning your visit.

Vrieze's Erfgoed is a three-hectare visitor site with information boards about history and the landscape. It includes an account of the history of a Halifax bomber that crashed, an apiary, kitchen gardens, fields and grazing sheep. At Molen de Vlijt, wheat is milled using wind power; the regional shop sells flour products, including pancake flour, on Saturdays. Nearby, the Kozakkenveer ferry, operated by volunteers, takes cyclists from Veessen to the Duursche Waarden nature area in Overijssel, where visitors can climb an observation tower. Heerde’s other cultural and historical features include the Apeldoorns Kanaal, the springs-and-stream system and historic routes across the heath, with worn cart tracks and distinctive passages through the undulating cover-sand ridges.

Discover more destinations: Wapenveld, Heerde, Veessen, Tiel, Zevenaar, Neder-Betuwe, Doesburg, Oldebroek.

For the broader travel overview: Gelderland.