Olst Between the IJssel Landscape and History

Olst combines the landscape along the IJssel with walking opportunities and a rich local history. If you are planning a stay, you might first consider whether you are most interested in nature, historic sites or the history of the IJssellinie.

Nature and Finding Your Way Along the IJssel

Near Olst, the Duursche Waarden nature development area lies along the IJssel. This water-rich, marshy area has an observation tower and birdwatching hides. The area around the Fortmond brickworks in the Duursche Waarden is freely accessible nature. A barefoot-or-boot trail runs between a birdwatching hide and the observation tower. The observation points and trail offer different perspectives: you can view the landscape from above or focus on the path between the two points. Check local access conditions before visiting.

The Infocentrum IJssel Den Nul is located near Olst and Wijhe on the Rijksstraatweg. It is the gateway to the Duursche Waarden nature area, and several walks start there. The building has an exhibition room and information about the nature and culture of the surrounding area. The information centre thus provides both guidance on the walking routes and an overview of regional themes. Check opening details before your visit.

Walks and Route Planning

One specifically described option is the shorter version of the Olst-Wijhe walking route. It runs from Olst railway station to Wijhe railway station, is approximately 11 kilometres long and allows you to return by train. The approximate distance and the option of a return journey give you a useful starting point for planning; check the current timetable for train connections. This route is distinct from the walks that start at the Infocentrum IJssel Den Nul.

Local History, Buildings and Everyday Culture

The Holsto estate was first mentioned in a document in 947. It stood on an old river dune on the IJssel, on the site of what is now the village of Olst. The Willibrordkerk, now usually called the village church, stands on the highest point of a river dune in the centre of the former Holsto estate, which belonged to the Essen convent. The medieval village centre lay around the village church and expanded northwards along what is now Van Limburg Stirumstraat in the 12th and 13th centuries.

An independent parish was established in Olst in the 13th century. Its founding may have been prepared around 1234, when Bishop Otto I stayed at his estate in Olst. On that occasion, the new parish church, the Willibrordkerk, may already have been consecrated. The possible consecration should be distinguished from the establishment of the parish as a separate historical detail.

De Haere also brings together different periods: the estate of ter Hare (Haer), associated with the place, is already documented in 14th-century records. A folly was built at De Haere in 1870 as a garden ornament. Another testament to local history is Bökkers Mölle, a listed national monument on the edge of the IJssel floodplains in Olst. The mill is currently used as a grain mill by volunteers. If you are planning a specific visit, check the current visitor arrangements.

The Museum Oud Keukengerei in Olst displays household objects from 1900 to the present day. Alongside older traces of buildings and settlement, it offers a look at everyday culture. Its collection covers a different period from the documents relating to the history of the Holsto estate and offers its own perspective on the past.

The IJssellinie and Railway History

The IJssellinie included an inlet sluice in the river dike at De Haere. The IJssellinie was designed to flood a 120-kilometre-long and 10-kilometre-wide strip of land along the IJssel between Kampen and Nijmegen. The IJssellinie’s military installations included an inlet sluice, a command bunker, an emergency hospital and casemates. They have been restored to their former condition and opened to visitors as a lasting reminder of this brief episode in the Cold War. The IJssellinie Foundation regularly offers guided tours and tours on request; arrangements may change, so check in advance.

Railway history offers another perspective: Olst was connected to the railway network on 1 October 1866, when the Maatschappij tot Exploitatie van de Staatsspoorwegen (SS) officially opened the Arnhem–Zwolle line. Together with the Olst-Wijhe walking route described above, this gives a picture in which today’s route planning can be distinguished from the history of the place.

Discover more destinations: Welsum, Wijhe, Wesepe.

For the overview of the wider area: Olst-Wijhe.