Winterswijk Kotten: Farms, Borders and Cultural Landscape

Winterswijk Kotten combines protected historic farmsteads with a varied cultural landscape. Building history, former border arrangements and the landscape itself offer different insights into the area. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Kotten, you can consider whether you would like to focus your trip more on cultural history, landscape or outdoor activities.

Historic Farms and Architectural Styles

Oossink, an old farmstead dating from 1792 and a protected Rijksmonument, is located at Burloseweg 44. At this farmstead, the name, location and date are closely linked: the year places the farmstead in its historical context, while the address locates it specifically in Winterswijk Kotten.

De Snieder is also protected as a Rijksmonument. The farmstead is of the Saxon type; its cross-wing took its present form in the late 19th century. By comparison, the notable historical reference point at Oossink is its date of 1792, while at De Snieder it is the architectural style and its later form. The two farmsteads thus represent different aspects of Kotten’s architectural history.

Border History and Earlier Traces

Kotten’s present-day border was definitively established in 1766. Surviving boundary stones made of Bentheim sandstone commemorate this demarcation. Another local reference to traditional order is Kotten’s freedom tree: it symbolizes the four traditional corners, called “heuke” in Dutch, that belong to the buurtschap.

The history goes back further. A settlement existed along the Slingebeek as early as around 300 BC; evidence cited for this includes urn finds. From a later period comes Kotten’s historical role as an important link in a smuggling route between Winterswijk and the German town of Oeding.

Winterswijk and Oeding are also connected in another context: the Borkense Baan was a former railway link between the two places. The smuggling route and the railway are distinct historical connections: one describes Kotten’s former role along a route, while the other refers to a former rail connection.

A Varied Cultural Landscape

Kotten is part of the old “hoevenlandschap,” a traditional cultural landscape of old farmsteads. The small-scale arable fields, further accentuated by vegetation, are characteristic of it. Extensive woody vegetation is also part of the landscape, including plantings around farms, woods and small patches of woodland.

The relief is also part of this character. The naturally occurring microrelief has been further accentuated by human use; the features mentioned include undulating fields and steep edges. Fields, woody vegetation and differences in elevation each represent different elements of the cultural landscape. Kotten’s landscape can therefore be described not only through individual farmsteads, but also through the way the surrounding area has been shaped and structured.

Walking, Cycling and Local Production

Kotten’s varied landscape is well suited to walking and cycling. For 2026, a guided cycle tour through the buurtschap of Kotten and the surrounding area was scheduled for Tuesdays from late April to the end of September. If you are planning a tour in a later season, check the applicable dates again.

Another local feature is the CiderAtelier in Kotten. It produces artisanal cider from natural ingredients, including fruit from its own orchard and from orchards in the immediate vicinity. Local production is a distinct aspect of the area, alongside its architectural history and landscape.

When planning your trip, you can consider these themes separately: the farmsteads and boundary stones represent history, the small-scale fields and woody vegetation represent the landscape, and walking and cycling are activities. This makes it easy to plan your stay around the interests that matter most to you.

Discover more destinations: Winterswijk Woold, Winterswijk Brinkheurne, Winterswijk Miste, Winterswijk, Winterswijk Henxel

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