Discover Wapenveld

Explore Wapenveld through its hiking trails, landscapes and local cultural heritage. The routes offer two clearly distinct distances: the Paddenpad is 13 kilometres long, while the waymarked Kloosterpad is 3.5 kilometres. Other highlights include a museum about Dutch dairy history, a monument to papermaking, and cycle routes connected to literature and woodland landscapes. When planning your trip, you can choose between a longer scenic route, a shorter trail in the Kloosterbos, cultural themes and cycling tours.

Hiking between the Veluwe and the IJssel Valley

Near Wapenveld, the Paddenpad connects the Veluwe and the IJssel Valley. The 13-kilometre route passes through woods, over the glacial ridge, and alongside meadows, farms and drainage ditches. On the outskirts of Wapenveld, it also crosses floodplains and passes the heathlands of Klein Zwitserland. Alongside the woods, the route takes in the ridge, open meadows, agricultural land and floodplains. The Paddenpad is a good option for anyone who wants to combine a longer route with changing landscapes during their stay. Trail conditions may change; check the latest information before setting out.

The waymarked Kloosterpad runs for 3.5 kilometres through the Kloosterbos. Vrieze's Erfgoed is the starting point for this signposted walking route. There is also a walking trail on the grounds, along with information boards about the area's history and landscape. Compared with the Paddenpad, the Kloosterpad is the shorter route; the Kloosterbos and Vrieze's Erfgoed give the walk a different point of reference. Waymarking and access may change. Check the latest information before your walk.

A hand-operated ferry on the grounds of Vrieze's Erfgoed allows you to cross the Apeldoorn Canal to the Kloosterbos. If you plan to take the ferry, check the local access conditions beforehand.

Cultural heritage connected to dairy and paper

Across nine themed areas, the Nederlands Zuivelmuseum displays artefacts from the dairy industry. The exhibits on Dutch dairy history include objects covering the entire chain, from grass to glass. The museum is housed in the former IJsselhoeve Erve IJzerman. A time capsule from 1898, the farmstead offers a glimpse into life at the time. The museum thus presents two perspectives side by side: Dutch dairy history across the entire chain and life on an IJsselhoeve in the late 19th century.

The bronze statue of the papermaker in Wapenveld commemorates a century of papermaking. This adds another aspect of local industrial history to the story of dairy. The museum and monument offer different points of interest if you are curious about the history of local industries during your stay. Information boards on the grounds of Vrieze's Erfgoed also cover history and landscape.

Cycling in the Zwolse Bos and following a literary trail

There are two different starting points for cycling trips. The Annie Oosterbroek cycle route passes places described by Annie Oosterbroek-Dutschun in her books. The Zwolse Bos focuses on woodland and nature, with heathland and several small bodies of water. A paved cycle path runs through the forest and is part of the Veluwe cycle junction network. You can compare the literary trail of the Annie Oosterbroek route with the cycle path through the landscape of the Zwolse Bos. Route details and access may change; check the current route before your ride.

Discover more destinations: Heerde, Veessen.

Go to the main travel guide: Heerde.