Cycling around and through Vreden

This tour takes you through the Dutch-German border area between Winterswijk and Vreden. You cycle through the Achterhoek and through the German Münsterland. An ideal route if you are looking for peace, quiet and extensive nature and agricultural areas. You cycle through the Zwillbrocker Ven, among other things. This German swamp area, which lies right next to the Dutch border, is a breeding ground for more than a hundred bird species. The largest German black-headed gull colony, consisting of around 16,000 birds, breeds here. Moreover, the Zwillbrocker Ven is the northernmost breeding area for flamingos in Europe. The former Hanseatic town of Vreden is the only relatively large place you visit during this route. This German town, located on the Berkel River, was described in the Xanten annals as early as the ninth century. Over the course of its history, Vreden has been affected by war, fire and plague, so that few historical archives are available. Nowadays Vreden mainly presents itself as a pleasant shopping city. In the center is the twelfth-century Stiftskerk Sint-Felicitas, whose crypt dates from the eleventh century. You drive into the Achterhoek via the Tenkinkbos. Here you will experience the variety of the Winterswijk National Landscape, a nature reserve of approximately 22,000 hectares. The landscape is a constant variety of fields, meadows and meandering streams, hedgerows and forests. You will also see picturesque Saxon farms and stately mansions. Together these elements form the beautiful bocage landscape that is so characteristic of the region around Winterswijk. Around the church village of Meddo you will see several monumental farms from the nineteenth century. The Sellink Mill, the hull of a windmill built in 1873, is also located here. The mill was named after the first miller, Jan Hendrik Sellink. The mill has always been owned by the miller's relatives. That is still the case, even now that a compound feed factory is located in the mill. Remarkably, two of the largest boulders in the Netherlands were found in Meddo. The lightest boulder, still weighing 38,000 kg, is located near the canteen of the local football club. The heaviest boulder (43,000 kg) has been moved to the old town hall of Winterswijk as a showpiece. This route starts and ends in Hotel Restaurant Kloppendiek in Zwillbrock, a village just across the Dutch border in Germany. Here you can enjoy typical Westphalian hospitality and cooking in a quiet environment. The entire range of pastries and bread comes from our own bakery. The apple pie and gooseberry baisse are highly recommended: they are made according to a traditional family recipe. The restaurant is a wonderful place to dine after a beautiful day of cycling. How relaxing is it to no longer have to take the car after an aperitif, but to settle down in a comfortable hotel bed? Especially if a nice bike ride awaits the next day, because you can also cycle route 162605 from this hotel.