Discover Laag Zuthem: Historic Estates and Walking Trails

If you are looking for a hotel in Laag Zuthem, historic estates and walks can provide useful starting points for planning your trip. De Colckhof, Den Alerdinck and individual buildings tell stories of different landscapes and eras. The walking trails also vary: from a route of about an hour to trails of nine or ten kilometres.

Landscape and Estates

De Colckhof lies between Laag Zuthem and Heino and covers 40 hectares. Woodlands give way there to an expansive agricultural landscape. Ponds, curving avenues and views across rolling meadows complete the scenery. Songbirds, including nightingales, golden orioles, yellowhammers and redstarts, nest in the hedgerows and avenues. At De Colckhof, you can take in both natural features and the designed parkland.

Den Alerdinck covers 120 hectares of farmland, woodland and natural areas. That is three times the area of De Colckhof. The historic garden and park preserve a well-maintained system of avenues dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. In the early 19th century, it was incorporated into a landscape park. The grounds also preserve part of an old sea dyke dating from around 1829 to 1830.

Architectural History and Special Buildings

De Colckhof was mentioned in the 13th century as “Goed ten Kolcke”. In the 18th century, the estate was a spieker, or grain store. Construction of the present Neoclassical manor house began around 1850. Different building phases come together in the main house: the front house and rear house contribute to the importance of the main house through their age and distinctive architecture.

The ensemble also includes the Bagatelle gatehouse, built in 1867, and the Eendenhuisje by the pond. The latter is built in the half-timbered style, with cement-rusticated walls. The Theekoepel stands on a hill in the Ronde Bos. Its shape recalls a graceful semicircular Doric temple; its features include marble columns.

Den Alerdinck is home to Het Koningshuis Castle, a historic carriage house, several manor houses and gardens. Huize Den Alerdinck was recognised as a havezate, a fortified manor, around 1647. The main building is of general importance because of its age, Neoclassical architecture, preserved exterior and surviving interior features. The Bouwhuis is also part of the estate’s architectural history and originally dates from the 18th century.

Another building stands right in Laag Zuthem: the Dijkstoel at Kolkweg 2 is a municipal monument. It originally served as a dijkstoel; today, the building is used for storage.

Walking Trails by Length and Terrain

The Colckhof walking route is 2.3 kilometres long, marked with blue arrows and takes about an hour. As markings may change, check the route signs before setting off. Another route, IJssels rivierenlandschap, passes along the Zeedijk just outside Laag Zuthem. Both the markings and conditions on this route may change.

Two different routes are worth considering for longer walks: the 9-kilometre Rond Den Alerdinck walk takes you near Heino through the historic estates of De Colckhof and Den Alerdinck. The Trage Tocht Colckhof en Alerdinck is 10 kilometres long; at least 70 percent of it follows unpaved paths. You can therefore make your choice based on distance and, for the Trage Tocht, also on the terrain. The shorter Colckhof route also gives you an approximate duration to help plan your trip.

Choosing a Hotel and Planning Your Trip

When planning your trip, consider whether you would rather focus on architectural history, historic parkland, birdlife or a walk of a particular length. The estates offer a range of cultural, historical and landscape themes, while the routes provide a clear guide to walking time or distance.

Discover more destinations: Raalte, Heeten, Nieuw-Heeten, Broekland, Heino, Luttenberg.

Go to the main travel overview: Raalte.