Holiday apartment in Vorden – discover castles, routes and nature

When choosing a holiday apartment in Vorden, you can shape your stay around very different local attractions: architectural history, castle and country-estate landscapes, cycling routes, or short and longer walking paths. This makes for varied days combining culture, nature and activity.

History and castle culture in Vorden

The tower of the Dorpskerk Vorden dates from the 14th century. Its Romanesque round-arch windows and height of 44 metres make it a distinctive building in the village. Kasteel Vorden was first mentioned as early as the 12th century. During the summer tourism season, the Dorpskerk is open to visitors on weekday afternoons from 2:00 to 4:00 pm; volunteers then share the history of the church.

For the 2026 season, Kasteel Vorden offers an audio tour from 23 June to 31 October. It takes place from Wednesday to Monday, between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm. This means you can also plan a stay in Vorden specifically around the history of the castle and a cultural visit at a set time.

Routes for cycling and walking

The 8 Kastelentocht is the Netherlands’ oldest signposted cycling route and was devised in 1913 by the VVV in Vorden. It leads around Vorden past castles and country houses, across estates and heathland, through forests and along picturesque meadows and fields. The route thus combines historical attractions with changing landscapes.

There are also routes of various lengths for walking. The 16-km Hackfort walking route through and around Vorden starts on the forecourt or car park of Hackfort, or at Vorden railway station, and follows the blue arrows of the Achterhoek walking network. The signposted Cuypersroute starts at the car park of the church of the Heiligenbeeldenmuseum, is 14 km long and can be shortened to 10 km. These different distances make it easier to plan active and shorter days.

Park woodlands and country estates

The Den Bramel en Het Enzerinck walk runs through the park woodlands of the two estates, passes Den Bramel Castle and the Het Enzerinck country house, and conveys the history of the estates, park woodlands and castles, as well as their connection with nature. At the Het Enzerinck estate between Vorden and Almen, visitors can walk through a park woodland rich in birds and among organically farmed agricultural areas.

Three woodpecker species and many songbirds, including blackcaps, robins and garden warblers, breed in the grounds of Het Enzerinck. The Grootvaders Huisje on the estate was built in 1920 for the landowner’s grandchildren and restored by Natuurmonumenten. In spring, Landgoed Hackfort features carpets of stinzen plants, as well as the historic Hof van Hackfort kitchen garden.

Experiences around Hackfort

The Hackfortse Enkroute runs mostly through Hackfort estate. It features centuries-old fields surrounded by hedgerows, coppice woodlands, ponds and historic farmhouses. At the Watermolen Hackfort, volunteer millers saw wood and use water power to grind grain into animal feed. When water levels permit, they grind grain there using the traditional mill and open it to the public. Keuken van Hackfort offers visitors refreshments made with ingredients from the farm.

Short paths with local history

The Tegelroute Vorden is an approximately 2-km walking route along 18 large granite photo tiles located at historic sites in the village of Vorden. It is suitable for wheelchairs and walking frames. Vorden railway station is on the Zutphen–Winterswijk railway line, making it a clearly identifiable landmark for planning your journey.

A holiday apartment in Vorden to suit your plans

When choosing your accommodation or holiday home, you can consider which of these aspects of the area you want to shape your holiday: castle and church history, the landscapes of the estates, wildlife observation in the park woodland, or a route of a set length. Vorden offers specific reasons to visit at different paces, allowing you to combine active routes with more relaxed cultural and nature experiences.

Other places for orientation

For further orientation, you can find Hengelo, Hummelo, Keijenborg, Wichmond, Toldijk, Baak, Bronckhorst and Olburgen.

To the higher-level travel overview: Bronckhorst.