Ysselsteyn: Discover Cultural History and Nature

Ysselsteyn offers several points of interest for a stay: the German War Cemetery is a place of remembrance, while Museum De Peelstreek focuses on the history of rural life and the Peel. The protected De Rouwkuilen nature area is also nearby. If you are looking for a hotel in Ysselsteyn, these highlights can help you plan your stay: Would you like to focus mainly on historical topics, visit a museum, or explore the natural surroundings?

War History and Remembrance

The German War Cemetery in Ysselsteyn was established in 1946 at the request of the Dutch government. It is wheelchair accessible; check the latest visitor information before your visit. The visitor centre has been open since 2021 and provides practical information. In a multimedia exhibition, visitors can discover the stories behind the crosses.

The Defensie or Peelkanaal is also historically significant: it is considered evidence of the reinforcement and subsequent defence of the Netherlands during the Second World War. Several regularly spaced, reinforced-concrete S-bunkers stand west of Ysselsteyn, on the canal’s western bank. They were built in 1939–40 as part of the Peel-Raamstelling. Thus, alongside remembrance, structures that bear witness to military history are among the themes that shape Ysselsteyn.

Museum De Peelstreek and Rural History

The collection at Museum De Peelstreek includes machinery, equipment, tools and household items from earlier rural life. Its scope extends beyond individual objects: the museum presents the history of the Peel, including peat extraction, land reclamation, transport routes, and historical boundaries and boundary disputes. The founding of Ysselsteyn in 1921 is also among the topics covered. The Ròwkoelehof houses an extensive collection of large agricultural machines and related items. In this way, everyday rural life and agricultural technology are presented as distinct areas of focus.

The museum is open from 1 April to 31 October. You can visit without an appointment on Saturdays from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m.; visits at other times are possible by arrangement via email, telephone or message. Check the seasonal opening hours before you travel. The museum offers tours for groups and individual visitors, led by volunteers trained by the board. Primary school children have their own programme, featuring a treasure hunt in which they look for objects and answer questions about them.

De Rouwkuilen and the Museum Route

De Rouwkuilen lies northeast of Ysselsteyn, nearby. This 56-hectare protected natural monument includes coniferous forest and a fen. The Ysselsteyn Museum Route visits two museums in Ysselsteyn and passes through the De Rouwkuilen nature area on the way back to Lovinckplein. The route as described thus combines museum visits with a section through the natural surroundings, without specifying a walking time or pace.

The Peel’s historical use also offers a distinct insight into the region. Sheep belonging to farmers from Venray and surrounding villages stayed there from 19 March until the first Sunday in October. Together with the topics explored in the museum, this historical connection helps place the Peel in context not only as a landscape, but also as a habitat used over a long period.

Discover more destinations: Oostrum, Blitterswijck, Venray, Wanssum, Veulen, Merselo, Smakt, Geijsteren.

Back to the main travel overview: Venray.