Broekland: Village History, Church and Landscape

Broekland combines a strong connection to its landscape with village history, events and a named walking route. If you’re planning a stay, you can choose according to your interests: local history, an event date or a tour.

Landscape and Local History

The name Broekland derives from the broeklanden, meaning marshy, low-lying land. The settlement village lies at the transition from the De Wesenberg ridge to the stream landscape around the Rameler Waterleiding. Thus, its geographical setting brings together a named ridge and a landscape shaped by streams; at the same time, the place name refers to low-lying, damp land.

Until the beginning of the 20th century, Broekland consisted of scattered buildings along unpaved roads in a damp woodland and grassland landscape. This earlier settlement pattern provides a distinct historical point of reference alongside the present-day description of the village’s location. Together, the place name, the landscape areas and the historic buildings offer insight into the development of the village.

Church and Building History

The church at Van Dongenstraat 10 is one of Broekland’s two municipal monuments. The present-day St. Marcellinus Church was built in 1911–1912 to designs by H. Kroes. The development of the settlement of Broekland is also connected with the construction of the Roman Catholic church on Van Dongenstraat in 1912.

Several architectural details add to this chronology: the stained-glass windows of St. Marcellinus Church were made by J. Colette and date from 1912. In 1931, side aisles were added to the church. The rectory at Van Dongenstraat 12 also dates from 1912. This sequence makes it possible to distinguish the original construction phase from the later extension. Since 2001, the Kulturhus has stood next to the village church.

Plan Around Events

Boscross Broekelo is an annual event in Broekland. The Broeklanderfeest traditionally runs from Friday until the night leading into Monday; the festivities include a fairground on the festival grounds. Broekrock is a two-day music festival held on the first weekend that falls entirely in September. These events offer different planning cues: the annual recurrence of Boscross, the Friday-to-Monday period of the Broeklanderfeest and the September weekend for Broekrock. If you’re planning your trip around an event, check the current programme and dates in advance.

Walking Route and Play Area

The named walking route “Rondje Waterwinning/Duuvelsbossie/dorp Broekland” is 8.3 kilometres long; the stated duration is 2 hours and 4 minutes. The length and duration give you two concrete measures for planning a tour. Check the current route information before setting out.

The natural Karreweide playground, “De Grote speelweide 2.0,” was accessible to wheelchair users and people using a rollator. Its facilities included sustainable wooden play equipment, a water pump, a nest swing, a seesaw, a zip line, a cycling cross track and a football pitch. Check the current access and condition of the facility before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Laag Zuthem, Heino, Luttenberg, Nieuw-Heeten, Heeten, Raalte

Go to the main travel overview: Raalte.