Along the sights of Vorden

Vorden originated in the Middle Ages on one of the cover sand areas on the Vorensche Beek. The village has no fewer than eight castles, making it one of the most castle-rich villages in the Netherlands. The village is located on the edge of the De Graafschap National Landscape and can be called a picturesque, idyllic landscape. In the area you will find ash trees and meadows, beautiful country estates, babbling brooks, romantic unpaved paths and picturesque hamlets and villages. The small-scale landscape is characterized by fairytale vistas in a semi-open area. The interplay of hedgerows, hedges, farms, fields and rivers gives the area something exciting. The idyllic scenic landscape also has many estates and castles that are typical of the area. With so many monuments in the area, Den Bramel Castle presents itself quite quickly. In fact it is a country estate in the heart of the Achterhoek. The current building dates from 1725, where an old wall of an earlier house was renovated. In 1868 the house was fitted with a neo-Renaissance stepped gable and in 1881 the roof was fitted with slate and a turret was installed. You can visit the estate, but the castle itself and the surrounding gardens are private. Then we continue to Hackfort castle and the associated water mill. Two sturdy towers characterize the castle. The fortress was originally a residential tower that was largely destroyed by Spanish troops during the Eighty Years' War. The castle was rebuilt in 1598 and underwent major renovations in 1788. The castle is now in good condition and is located in the middle of beautiful forests and extensive meadows. The Hackfortermolen is an undershot water mill dating from 1700 and was used as a flour mill. The Baakse Beek used to power the water mill, but between 1952 and 1997 the mill stood still because the stream did not flow strongly enough. Since the Rijn en IJssel Water Board improved the situation in 1997, the Hackforter mill has been restored and can grind grain again. It is also used as a hydroelectric power station. A little further on you will pass another Hackforter mill, a beautiful round stone mill from 1851. In the early twentieth century, the mill fell into disrepair due to a nearby mill. In 1943, Baron Van Westerholt decided to repair the mill and in the same year, this Hackforter mill was used for wind power again. The mill was restored in 1967, 1974 and 1985. Nowadays, milling is done on a voluntary basis. Anyone who wants to visit the inside of the mill can go there on Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning. More in the village, the De Hoop mill stands out. In 2005, the mill was completely restored after a long standstill. The mill is kept running by volunteers with 1 pair of grinding stones.