Hof Van Twente: Gardens, Castles and Cycle Routes

The Twickel Estate brings together centuries-old forests, distinctive wet heathland and agricultural land to create a varied cultural landscape. It also features historic gardens, country houses and places where regional history and crafts come to life. This offers a range of options for planning your visit: you can focus on garden architecture and museums, or include activities in the countryside.

Exploring on foot and by bike

Twickel Estate offers opportunities for walking and cycling, both independently and along a guided route. The Fietsnetwerk Twente comprises a total of 2,500 kilometres; in Hof Van Twente, you can use it to put together your own routes. A ready-made alternative is the Zes kastelen Fietsroute Diepenheim. This gives you a choice between routes you can combine freely and a set cycling tour.

The terrain in the De Borkeld nature reserve is easily accessible to walkers and cyclists, and its landscape includes heathland. De Borkeld is also an archaeological reserve: settlement remains and burial mounds are dated to between 4,000 and 6,000 years old. At Borkeldweg, Informatieboerderij ’n Witten has a permanent exhibition, a nature discovery garden and glacial erratics.

Historic gardens and country houses

Seven castles and historic country houses define Hof Van Twente: Kasteel Twickel near Delden, as well as Huis Nijenhuis, Kasteel Warmelo, Huis te Diepenheim, Huis Westerflier, Kasteel Weldam and Havezate Wegdam in and around Diepenheim. Some of the gardens are open to visitors. At Weldam Estate, both the garden and estate are open to the public, but the castle itself is not. Walkers and cyclists can also follow three signposted routes marked with coloured posts.

On the outskirts of Diepenheim, Warmelo Estate encompasses a seven-hectare historic garden with a French formal garden, an English landscape garden and a pinetum. The garden at Kasteel Warmelo showcases four centuries of garden architecture, from medieval herb gardens to the formal French garden and the romantic English landscape park. In the English section of the park, laid out in the 18th century, a seasonal exhibition features 28 remarkable sand sculptures. Check the current exhibition dates before your visit.

The garden at Kasteel Weldam is an example of the restoration of 17th-century Baroque gardens in the late 19th century. Together with Warmelo, it shows how varied garden design can be: here, the restoration of a Baroque garden; there, garden styles spanning several centuries.

Art, history and crafts

The Drawing Centre Diepenheim is dedicated to contemporary drawing. Its programme includes three exhibitions and an art festival each year, as well as interactive guided tours and workshops. The centre’s gardens form an outdoor collection in which various artists present their perspectives on gardens, nature and the landscape.

In Goor, the Goors Historisch Museum tells the story of the town across two floors; it is housed in the 1865 railway station building. The Klompenmuseum Goor displays early machines for making wooden clogs and offers demonstrations of traditional hand production, though times may vary. Around 700 wooden clogs are on display, including intricately carved and painted examples, making this the largest collection of wooden clogs on display in the Netherlands. The museum is near the Braakmolen and offers guided tours and video presentations about clog making in Dutch, French, German and English.

The Braakmolen is an octagonal gallery mill more than 22 metres high. During a visit, the millers demonstrate the working mill equipment, except for the motor; demonstrations depend on their availability. The Graftrommel exhibition in Goor is open from April through September on the first Sunday of each month, from 2 to 4 pm. Check the seasonal opening hours before travelling.

In the centre of Delden, the Zoutmuseum is housed in the former town hall of Ambt en Stad Delden. It tells the story of salt and its significance, from Twickel, Boekelo and Hengelo to its global context. The Museumboerderij Wendezoele is located at the listed Erve Brinkcate near Delden, close to Kasteel Twickel. Demonstrations of traditional crafts, exhibitions, guided tours and storytelling are part of its programme.

Local produce and planning your visit

The Streekmarkt Twente takes place in Delden on the first Saturday of each month; as dates may change, it is worth checking the events calendar before your trip. The Landgoedwinkel Twickel stocks organic and fresh produce from the estate, its tenants and Noaber products. At Wijngaard Hof van Twente, visitors can learn about the vineyard and the winemaking process, then taste several wines with baguette, herb butter and olives.

For information about attractions and help finding your way around the area, Tourist Info Delden offers walking and cycling routes, maps and guidebooks. This can help you weigh up specific cultural destinations, trips into the countryside and different cycling options as you plan your visit.

Discover more destinations:

Delden, Goor, Diepenheim, Markelo, Bentelo, Hengevelde, Ambt Delden, Rijssen-Holten

For the main travel overview: Overijssel.