Via Zeddam to Doetinchem

Doetinchem is an important city in the Gelderse Achterhoek, located on the Oude IJssel. The locals also call the place"Deutekem\\\","Durkum\\\" or"Dorkum\\\". The place is surrounded by nature reserves and forests. So prepare yourself for cycling under a canopy of leaves. The city itself is also cozy. Doetinchem used to be important as a trading place for farmers. They offered their wares on the market there. There is not much information about the history of the city, because during a major city fire in 1527 a lot of documentation was lost. After the Second World War Doetinchem grew and the city eventually caught up with the surrounding large cities. The vibrant coziness and rural atmosphere of the Achterhoek seep into the streets of Doetinchem, which makes a day in this city unforgettable. During this bike tour you will see the Grafelijke Torenmolen. This mill does not have the appearance of the mills that you usually see in the Netherlands. The old tower mill was built before 1441 and is probably the oldest windmill in the Netherlands. The building looks a bit clumsy, with its thick walls and robust appearance. In the mill, with which a volunteer miller grinds grain, there are still very old floorboards that make the mill very special. Two kilometers further you come through the village of Braamt and you see the Braamtse Molen. This mill is also called Koeners Mol. Special about this mill is that it is one of the two mills in the Netherlands that has Beckers valves and Beckers noses on one of the rods. The ground sailer from 1856 is out of operation, but with a pair of 16er artificial stones it used to grind grain. In the hamlet Dichteren near Doetinchem you can see the Aurora mill, built in 1870. This round stone ground sailer was built when a predecessor, which stood in a different place, could no longer turn properly because the buildings obstructed the wind. The corn mill is still regularly operated by a volunteer miller.