Cycling along the Oude IJssel

The village of Varsseveld has only six thousand inhabitants. This place was probably inhabited very early; finds were made in the area of reindeer hunters and settlements that traded with the Romans in Roman times. The name Wazovelde, the original name of Varsseveld, already appeared in a deed from 823. The Varsseveldsekoppen form a small-scale covering sand relief; small hills rise 1 to 5 meters above the surrounding area. Alternately and in lower areas you see meadows, while fields lie on the heads and deciduous and coniferous forests interrupt the landscape. You follow the Oude IJssel for a bit, which used to be called the Salle. At that time, iron foundries sprang up along the river because there was a lot of iron ore in the ground. Furthermore, the river was a perfect way to transport the raw or molten ore. The blast furnaces in IJmuiden are the legacy of the iron foundries that once dominated this riverbank. Eetcafe de Holle Bus is the ideal base for a bike ride. When you return from your bike ride you can have a bite to eat in the restaurant or on the terrace.