Renswoude: Castle History, Walking Trails and the Grebbe Line

Castle, Park and Architecture

The park around Kasteel Renswoude is open to everyone free of charge. As access arrangements may change, check the latest information before your visit. The castle itself has its own visiting hours: it is open to the public on the first Tuesday of each month by prior appointment. Arrange your appointment before travelling.

The main building and the two flanking buildings of Kasteel Renswoude date from 1654 and were built in the Dutch Classicist style. The date and architecture give a visit to the castle a clear historical focus; the freely accessible park is a separate area to visit.

Walking Trails by Distance and Theme

The Verkennersroute Renswoude is 14 kilometres long in total and can be shortened or divided into three shorter routes: the village route, marked in red, at 5 kilometres; the countryside route, marked in blue, at 5 kilometres; and the castle route, marked in green, at 4 kilometres. The castle route is therefore the shortest section; the village and countryside routes are the same length.

As a historical walking trail, the Verkennersroute offers an overview of history, from the late Stone Age through the Golden Age and the transformation from an agricultural area to industrialisation in the 20th century, up to the present day. There are 40 information posts along the route with QR codes that provide further information about the surrounding area.

The Breeschoterpad offers a different type of route: it is a 6-kilometre circular walking trail, starting at Restaurant De Dennen in Renswoude and passing through the countryside around Renswoude and Scherpenzeel. The Boswachterspad Grebbelinie also starts at Restaurant De Dennen in Renswoude. The stated route lengths of the Verkennersroute and the Breeschoterpad can therefore be compared, while the starting point is given for the Boswachterspad.

The Daatselaarsepad focuses on the landscape. Its route passes through estates, farms and the Grebbe Line, crossing the countryside around Renswoude and Scherpenzeel in the Gelderse Vallei.

The Grebbe Line and Historic Sites

The Grebbelinie Visitor Centre is located in the Rijksmonument Fort aan de Buursteeg in Renswoude. It is a meeting point and starting point for exploring the Grebbe Line and is connected to numerous walking and cycling routes. In addition to the walking trails described, it also offers a starting point for exploring the Grebbe Line by bike.

The Grebbe Line presents its more than two centuries of history interactively. Features include a trench visitors can walk through and a life-size wooden tank decoy. Werk aan de Daatselaar was intended to block and defend the approaches to the Groeperkade and Slaperdijk; both are compartment dikes of the Grebbe Line.

Koepelkerk and Farm Golf

Koepelkerk Renswoude was built in the Renaissance style in the shape of a Greek cross with a dome; construction continued until 1641. The dome rests on pillars, or Ionic columns. Its ceiling features eight heraldic paintings in oval medallions. The floor plan, dome construction and painted details each offer a different way to appreciate the architecture.

At De Voskuilen in Renswoude, you can play farm golf on a farm, with family, friends or a group. Booking in advance is recommended.

For the broader travel overview: Renswoude.