Voorst: Cycling Routes, IJssel Floodplains and Cultural Heritage

In Voorst, different travel interests come together around clear themes: the Beekzichter cycling route, the IJsselvallei landscape, historic country estates and places of craftsmanship. You can plan your stay around activity, scenery or history. For some activities, specific timing and access conditions are important for planning.

Cycling Through Landscape and History

The Beekzichter cycling route starts at the Tolhuisje, Rijksstraatweg 34 in Voorst. It is 18 kilometres long and takes about two to three hours, including several short stops. Along the route, the Beekzichter app introduces 22 points with background information about the history, landscape and farmsteads of the estate.

The IJsselvallei is also a defining theme for cycling trips. In the municipality of Voorst, it lies between the Veluwe and the IJssel and includes distinctive natural areas and expansive landscapes. Cycle paths follow the winding course of the IJssel and pass through extensive floodplains with pastures and hawthorn hedges. On cycling routes through the floodplain, you can watch meadow birds. The Voorster Smulroutes combine cycling trips through the IJsselvallei with regional products: fresh farmhouse cheese, homemade apple pie and craft-brewed beers.

Country Estates, Crafts and Local History

The history of De Lathmer dates back to the Middle Ages: the estate’s name was first mentioned in 1273. Later, the grounds were expanded into a large estate with woods, avenues, tenant farms, fishponds and its own mill. Ruïne De Nijenbeek tells the story of a different historic use: it was built in the 13th century as a keep and defensive castle, and was inhabited from the 16th to the 19th century.

Craft history is also represented here. The Klompenmakerij on Wilpsche Dijk dates from 1867 and is considered the oldest surviving wooden-shoe workshop in the Netherlands. The Stoomhoutzagerij Wilpsche Dijk has been in operation for more than 100 years; it includes restored buildings and authentic steam engines. De Kribbe displays a collection of old agricultural tools that tells the story of rural life.

The Museum Zozijn in Wilp presents the varied history of Zozijn as a care institution for people with intellectual disabilities over the past 70 years. Exhibits include the habit of the first Penitent Brothers and a modern robotic cat. The museum thus offers a look at both the institution’s history and an unusual contemporary object.

Walking Trails and Landscapes

The municipality has numerous walking trails through woods, across pastures, over medieval dikes and along the IJssel. The Beekweidenpad passes through the cultural landscapes of the Kampen and Broek colonisation areas in Voorst. Prehistoric burial mounds can be found in the Appense Veld. Polder Nijbroek is considered one of the oldest polders in the Netherlands, while clear streams, springs and pools shape the landscape near Klarenbeek.

There is an approximately 3.5-kilometre walk associated with Museum Zozijn that passes points of interest and is wheelchair accessible. Check the latest access information before your visit, as visitor arrangements may change.

Trips and Specific Visiting Conditions

You can get to within about ten metres of Ruïne De Nijenbeek on foot or by bicycle. The ruin itself can only be visited with a guide; visits are seasonal and require a booking. Check the latest dates in advance and follow the local access information, as access conditions may change.

The Bussloo recreation area includes a 100-hectare recreational lake and is suitable for a trip at any time of year. You can dive, fish and canoe in and on the water. The recreation area also offers paintball, laser tag, US mini golf and beach volleyball. Thermen Bussloo offers saunas, baths, relaxation treatments and its own experience programme. As wellness offers and programmes may change, it is advisable to check what is currently available before your visit.

Tandem skydives and scenic flights over the area around Teuge are offered at Teuge Airport. You can also take guided tours of the airport, look inside the hangars and experience a cockpit. Alongside cycling and walking trails, the programme therefore includes aviation-related activities.

Travel Planning Information

There are three railway stations in the municipality of Voorst: Twello, Voorst-Empe and Klarenbeek. Train services and parking options may change, so check the latest connections and options before travelling. The municipality is also connected by a bicycle junction network and the A1 and A50 motorways. Road and route conditions can change, so it is worth checking the latest travel information here too.

When looking for a hotel in Voorst, you could start by considering which activities you would like to shape your stay: a cycling trip with a set duration, historic visits with specific access conditions, walks or trips around Bussloo. These differences can help you plan your days around your interests. If you plan a guided visit to the ruin, schedule it according to the season and booking requirements; allow about two to three hours for the Beekzichter cycling route, including short stops.

Discover more destinations: Teuge, Twello, Nijbroek, Terwolde, Voorst, Klarenbeek, Wageningen, Zutphen.

For the broader travel overview: Gelderland.