Aalten, Lichtenvoorde and Bredevoort

The Vennebulten, formerly the domain of highwaymen, is a nature reserve full of heaths and fens. The rugged nature of the Zwarte Veen was created because the subsoil hardly allowed water to pass through. At the end of the nineteenth century, the area was reclaimed by peat cutting to such an extent that the water could drain away and it became more suitable for use as agricultural land. This is how the current landscape image that you see in the Aaltense Goor reserve was created: small, narrow plots of hayfields, which are separated from each other by ditches and alder banks. Take a break at Grand Cafe Markt 5 in Lichtenvoorde! You say Bredevoort, you say National Book City. A number of large book markets were organized against the backdrop of the historic village center from 1993 onwards. A remnant are the many antique shops and second-hand bookstores.