Cycling between Winterswijk and Aalten

Lose yourself in the beautiful nature around Winterswijk. The Questionderveen is a protected peat area of 120 hectares. It is part of the Winterswijk National Landscape. In the past, a lot of peat was cut here. As a result, the soil became increasingly wetter. In 2000, sheet piles were installed to retain the area's nutrient-poor water. Because the water could no longer escape, the peat has grown again. In the long term, the peat moss will have grown so much that the peat moss will grow over the water and thus take over the function of the dams. The management of the area around the Questionderveen is working on restoring the landscape to the way it looked in 1930. A buffer zone has been created to restore the marshland to its original state. The watermills used to belong to the goods of the Heerheid Borculo. The Oliemölle in Winterswijk is the first mill you encounter. You've already covered a few kilometers by then, so it's a good thing that a cozy bistro is located in the historic watermill. Then you pass through the nature reserve of the Knownelle. Here the Boven-Slinge meanders through a deciduous forest with alders, ash, elms and oaks. Here the yellow star, slender primrose, cuckoo flower and marsh marigold grow luxuriantly and in the foothills of the river you see a lot of water violet and brook punge. Under the whistle of the kingfisher, the large yellow wagtail and the rare middle spotted woodpecker you arrive at the Berenschot water mill. The mill was built in 1652 as part of the Plekenpol harbor area. The mill was rebuilt in 1749, but the mill takes its name from the buyer who became the owner of the flour mill in 1911. The undershot watermill still grinds grain and houses a restaurant.