Holten: Hiking, Nature and Places of Remembrance

Holten lies at the foot of De Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park. When choosing a hotel, you can consider which themes you want to shape your stay: hiking trails on the Holterberg, nature or the history of the Second World War. The town’s history and an annual tradition are also among the different highlights.

Nature on the Holterberg

In De Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park, impressive hills formed during the Ice Age, together with drifting sands, coniferous forests and juniper shrubs, shape the landscape. The Holterberg viewpoint offers views of the surrounding area. This makes nature experiences and hikes distinct themes to consider for your time in Holten.

The Natuurmuseum Holterberg has a collection of European animal species featuring more than 1,000 animals. The museum also houses a free information point for De Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park. This brings nature-related topics and information about the national park together at a specific location, while keeping the two separate as offerings.

Hiking trails and distances

The Belevingspad connects the village of Holten with the Holterberg and is intended for walking and cycling. The 7.7-kilometre Ommetje Holterberg circular route starts at the Dagrecreatieterrein Holterberg. If you are considering routes of different lengths, you can compare these details with the shorter hikes on the Wereldtijdpad.

The Wereldtijdpad is 50 kilometres long in total and is divided into several themed hikes, each 4 to 10 kilometres long. The route’s final year post stands in the centre of Holten. The distances refer to different scales: the full route on the one hand and individual hikes on the other.

Places of remembrance and local history

The Holten Canadian War Cemetery contains 1,393 Commonwealth graves from the Second World War. The Informatiecentrum Canadese Begraafplaats Holten presents stories, photographs and exhibitions about the war cemetery. The cemetery and the information centre offer different perspectives on Holten’s historical heritage: the site itself and the content displayed there.

The Oudheidkamer Hoolt'n is housed in Holten’s former town hall, built in 1906. There, it presents changing exhibitions by the Expositie, Textiel and Mariniers working groups. As the exhibitions change, this part of the town’s history is not limited to a single permanent display.

More themes for your stay

At Bos van Daantje Das, children can play in the forest, build dens and have picnics. The Easter bonfires in Holten are an annual tradition and attract visitors from the wider area. If you want to plan your trip around this event, check the dates for the relevant year.

At Jansfarm Ambachtelijk Vlees, on the edge of Holten towards Deventer, there is a farm shop that sells, among other things, meat with no additives. The selection and opening hours may change, so check them before planning a visit. The Landschap vol Smaak cycling route starts at Holten railway station. De Kandelaar, at the station, also has a P+N car park for visitors to Holten and the Holterberg.

For your hotel stay, you can weigh the different highlights against one another: the routes on the Holterberg, nature and landscape, the history of the war cemetery or local history. The different route lengths help you distinguish hiking options by distance; the museum, exhibitions and annual Easter bonfires add further themes to explore during your time in Holten.

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