Nieuw-Heeten: Hekk'npad and Local History

Nieuw-Heeten offers two distinct ways to plan your trip: the Hekk'npad village walking route and specific connections to local history. There is also Bosweek in Gerritsenbos and a Buurtbus connection to Deventer. These topics give your stay a clear identity without requiring you to commit to just one kind of visit. You can focus on the landscape, the church architecture and historic traces of paths, or on practical travel by public transport.

A walking route through farmland

The Hekk'npad is a 6 km village walking route through farmland at the foot of the Sallandse Heuvelrug. It starts in the village center by the church at the Zwarteweg–Bathmenseweg intersection. Its length, circular route, and starting point give you clear details for fitting the walk into your stay; the surrounding landscape is also shaped by the farmland at the foot of the Sallandse Heuvelrug. One limitation is important when choosing a route: the Hekk'npad is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. Take this into account when planning if you are traveling with a wheelchair or stroller.

Historic traces of paths and church architecture

The Processiepad is a historic point of reference: it was laid out around 1923 and ran from Bathemerweg along the cemetery to the chapel. This information concerns a different planning aspect from the Hekk'npad: here, the focus is on an earlier route and its connection to the cemetery and chapel. Comparing the two helps distinguish a six-kilometer loop from a historical feature with named landmarks.

The R.K. St. Joseph Church in Nieuw-Heeten is a three-aisled neo-Gothic pseudo-basilica. Its tower has three stories and a four-sided spire. These features describe both the layout of the church and the shape of its tower. There are about 20 cast-iron crosses from the first half of the 20th century in the cemetery behind the church. This brings out two different aspects of local history: the church architecture and the gravestones, with their approximate number, material, and historical period.

Local tradition and getting there

Since 1976, the “Bosweek” has been held in Gerritsenbos for school-age children aged 6 to 12. During Bosweek, the children build huts. Its location, age group, and activity give the tradition a distinct character. It complements the historical connections to paths, the church, and the cemetery with a recurring activity at a named location.

A volunteer-run Buurtbus connects Lettele, Okkenbroek, and Nieuw-Heeten to the city of Deventer by public transport. If you are taking public transport into account when planning your trip, check the Buurtbus timetable before traveling. The places mentioned give you a specific reference point for the connection; the timetable is what matters for your departure on the day you intend to travel.

Discover more destinations: Laag Zuthem, Raalte, Broekland, Luttenberg, Heeten, Heino.

Go to the main travel overview: Raalte.