Winterswijk-Woold, Winterswijk and Winterswijk-Woold

Cycle along the German border. The rural area of Winterswijk is a beautiful part of the Netherlands that consists of a historic landscape with beautiful forests, heathland, hedgerows, streams, heathland and raised bogs. The Winterswijk National Landscape covers approximately 22,000 hectares and consists mainly of beautiful semi-open areas with alternating small plots and large ash trees. Here and there you will see some bushes, avenues or hedgerows and occasionally you will even come across some raised bogs. The large open quarry in particular is special and feels foreign. Tertiary geological deposits have been found here relatively close to the surface. The geological layers are clearly visible, allowing a quick glimpse into a past rich in fossils and minerals that are hundreds of millions of years old. Bekendelle (or Bekkendelle) is an old swamp forest with deciduous trees, near the hamlet of Wold where the Boven-Slinge meanders. It is part of a larger forest area bordering winding streams. This is a popular habitat of the kingfisher, the greater yellow wagtail and breeding ground of the rare middle spotted woodpecker. Bekendelle is part of Natura 2000, a network of protected natural areas in Europe.