The natural border area of Twente and Lower Saxony

It is wonderful to cycle in the rolling border area of Twente and the German state of Lower Saxony. On both sides of the border you still experience an almost old-fashioned peace. Not surprising, because you drive through a nature-rich region without large cities.

The idyllic Springendal
You cycle through a typical scenic landscape of groves, heathlands, flowery meadows and hedgerows. A large part of the route in the Netherlands takes you through the Springendal, a nature reserve nicknamed the'Garden of the Netherlands\\\'. You can indulge yourself romantically at the beautiful ponds and narrow streams in the middle of the forest. Moreover, this valley is not accessible to motorized traffic: where can you find that silence?

After a few kilometers you arrive near Ootmarsum. In the historic art town of Ootmarsum itself there are various sights, museums, galleries and shops. Here you are surrounded by a lot of varied natural beauty, such as heathlands, springs, ash trees and forests. In this typical Twente landscape, the peace and space of the small-scale agricultural landscape still dominate.

Saxon culture
On your route you will pass through some beautiful old villages and hamlets, such as Getelo, Hesingen, Oud Ootmarsum and Vasse. Everywhere you see the typical Saxon farms and half-timbered houses that bear witness to a shared cultural history in this border area. You start this route in the hamlet of Mander at Group Accommodation De Schure & Group Accommodation Het Landhoes. On this farm you can spend the night in one of the attractive and comfortable family houses in the middle of nature. Would you like to explore the quiet Twente countryside further? Then drive from Groepsaccommodatie De Schure & Groepsaccommodatie Het Landhoes also route 316487.

Jannink's Bra
On the way to Getelo, you will pass the largest landscape art project in the Netherlands just before the German border: the Mander Circles, also known as the Circles of Jannink. Feel free to dismount and take a look at these two special fields. They were constructed in the 1930s by textile manufacturer Jannink. According to him, the round shape offered the advantage that farmers could work the plot without having to turn their machine. Instead of crops you will now find a unique art project. A two-kilometre-long hiking trail takes you over the circles that form a beacon from the air. And pilots jokingly call it the'Jannink Bra\\\'. Would you like to explore the quiet Twente countryside further? Then drive from Groepsaccommodatie De Schure & Groepsaccommodatie Het Landhoes also route 316487.