Day out in the Veluwe at Landgoed Petrea

The Petrea estate is located on the flanks of the Woldberg; a non-native forested area of 456 hectares. Here mainly coniferous trees grow on the nutrient-poor, dry sandy soils. Wild boars and deer search for their food among the spruce, chestnut trees, oaks and larch trees, but birds of prey such as the coal tit, the crested tit, the firecrest, the buzzard, the hawk and the sparrowhawk also breed here. These are typical bird species for an area covered with conifers. Yet the forests are still young; they were not planted until the mid-19th century. This added some variety to the landscape, which at the time still mainly consisted of heathland. The many switches are noticeable through the trees. Wildlife in the area uses these established paths when they become active (usually) in the evening and at night and look for food to satisfy their hunger. The observant cyclist can see the animals jumping between the trees, but even if this is not the case, this oasis of peace and greenery will continue to surprise you. The De Wielewaal mill is located between Hattem and Wapenveld. This octagonal ground sailor was built in 1870 as a polder mill in Zuidveen. He continued to hold that position there until 1955, when De Wielewaal was moved to its current location, where it now only stands for its scenic value. The mill was never rebuilt for a functional purpose and is not suitable for grinding. The Hattem-Molecaten watermill, which you see almost at the end of the route, is a completely different type of mill. Molecaten belongs to the estate of House Molecaten and still runs regularly, although it is short of water. The mill has had several functions. It was used as a flour mill, but was later also used to generate electricity for the spacious villa on the estate. The last sight on the route is the De Fortuin mill. This windmill is located just like Molecaten in the municipality of Hattem, but in a built-up area. It is a tower mill that was built in 1816 to replace a mill that had blown down on that site. To strengthen the mill, a stone base was built in 1852, with the upper half surrounding the octagonal post being bricked. For those interested in the inside of the mill, the building is open on Saturday afternoons.