Holiday apartment in Beuningen – Nature, Trails and Cultural Heritage

Beuningen combines the dynamic floodplain landscape of the Waal with short walking trails, extensive cycling routes and a remarkable density of historic sites. Between nature reserves, water-based experiences and architectural heritage, the range extends from an officially designated bathing area to medieval castle remains and traces of a Roman villa.

Nature and water

The Ewijkse Plaat is a nature reserve that has been returned to nature, with lush dike and river flora in the dynamic floodplain landscape of the Waal. The Beuningse uiterwaarden were also transformed back into a nature reserve in the early 1990s. They are largely easily accessible and are grazed by Konik horses and Rode Geuzen cattle.

The Groene Heuvels recreation area has extensive beaches, climbing and paintball at Fundustry, as well as play equipment for children. The Groene Heuvels in Ewijk is also an officially designated bathing area where water quality, safety and hygiene are monitored.

Trails and activities

The Beuningse ommetjes are walking trails between two and five kilometres long on paved and semi-paved paths in and around the villages. Beunings Ommetje 1 is 4.4 kilometres long, fully wheelchair accessible and can also be cycled. A Beunings Ommetje can be walked on request with a free guided tour; the guide leads the way and explains points of interest along the route.

The Doddendaelpad is a hiking trail through the countryside around Beuningen, Ewijk and Weurt. It passes through orchards, meadows and forests, as well as the Doddendael estate. For cyclists, there is the Doortraproute Beuningen, a 23-kilometre cycling route that starts in Winssen and returns there.

Steengoed is a 40-kilometre cycling route focusing on the heritage of the brick industry in the Land van Maas en Waal. The route passes through Winssen, Beuningen and Weurt, among other places. In spring and summer, the H4 de Weerder bicycle and pedestrian ferry also operates between Beuningen and Slijk-Ewijk in the municipality of Overbetuwe.

The Uitkijktoren Weurt observation tower has stood at the Beuningse Uiterwaarden near Weurt since December 2017 and is 10 metres high. Its design refers to the chimney of a former brick kiln and includes bat boxes. The natural hiking trail Weurtsche Straatje leads to the peninsula with the Uitkijktoren Weurt.

History and culture

The former Dijkmagazijn in Beuningen was built around 1900. Today, it houses a nature and environmental education centre that organises walks, lectures and workshops.

Slot Doddendael is a small medieval castle surrounded by a moat and built in the 1330s of the 14th century. Its cellar still contains remains of a secret church that was used during the ban on Catholic worship. The Oude toren in Winssen is the surviving tower of a medieval village church. Flooding of the Waal in the late Middle Ages caused a large part of the old village to be lost.

The Cultuurkerkje Winssen was built as a hall church in 1805 and extended with a nave and bell tower in 1873. It is designated as a municipal monument and serves as an official wedding venue for the municipality of Beuningen. In the centre of Winssen, between the church and the old tower, stands the Muziekkoepel Winssen, which is also a municipal monument.

The Roman past is also present in the village landscape. A park was created on the site where the main building of the Roman villa stood, and it has been designated as an archaeological monument. New excavations uncovered a very large Roman villa with several outbuildings.

The Torentje van de Blanckenburgh is the surviving part of De Blanckenburgh Castle that is classified as a Rijksmonument, a national heritage monument. The surviving tower was the north-western corner tower and also the entrance gate to the castle.

Mills, wine and regional insights

The post mill Korenmolen De Haag, built in 1704, has been extensively restored. It is operated by a dedicated mill team and grinds flour that is offered for sale.

Wine tastings are offered at Wijndomein Doddendael in Ewijk. Dutch, French or Italian wines, various grape varieties and the winemaking process are presented during the tastings.

Art and events

During the Kunstroute Beuningen, participating artists exhibit at home, in studios, galleries, workshops or gardens over the event weekend. The various exhibition locations are therefore spread across different cultural spaces within the event format.

More local pages for exploring the area: Ewijk, Winssen.

To the higher-level travel overview: Gelderland.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Berkelland, Zevenaar, Maasdriel, Overbetuwe, Doetinchem, Brummen.