Holiday apartment in Druten: river landscape, trails and brickmaking culture

Druten combines the landscape of the river region with the history of brickmaking. In the municipality’s rural area, agricultural landscapes, extensive meadows, characteristic dikes along the Waal and remnants of former river bends meet hiking trails, the Heemtuin Druten and historic evidence of clay and brick production.

Nature and river landscape

The Afferdense en Deestse Waarden, together with the Drutense Waarden, are popular nature areas in the municipality of Druten. There you can experience flora and fauna. The Heemtuin Druten also focuses on the nature of the river region: since the early 1980s, it has been open to everyone who wants to enjoy wild flora, fauna and vegetation. Its plants, shrubs and trees, originally native to the Gelderland river region, attract birds, insects and amphibians; fungi can also be found there.

Visitors to the Heemtuin Druten can go for walks, have picnics, look for mushrooms and pick apples. The trails of the Druten hiking network are well signposted and therefore easy to follow. The network consists of colour-coded themed routes and junctions with combinations of letters and numbers.

Hiking and cycling

The Achtje van Druten passes reminders of water, clay extraction and the brick and roof-tile industry. The route starts and ends at the Oostersteeg exhibition space in Druten; in high-water conditions, the Waalbandijk can be used. In addition, the 6 km-long Kleigoedroute leads to evidence of brickmaking in and around Druten. A short Kleigoedroute is 2 km long.

The municipality’s rural area has bicycle junction routes, farm trails, rambling routes, and art and heritage routes. In the Drutens Bosje, you will find rambling paths, fitness equipment, a Cooper running track, as well as hiking and cycling trails. The cycling route through the Drutens Bosje is part of the nationwide bicycle junction network between junctions 12 and 92.

A separate area for children has been created in the Drutens Bosje, with climbing hills, climbing posts, paths made from tree trunks, a zip line and a large lawn. In addition, a child-friendly puzzle walk of approximately 5 km through Druten passes 19 numbered photo panels on brown posts.

Bricks, mills and local history

Brickmaking can be encountered along several routes and at various historic locations. Among other places, the Kleigoedroute passes clay pits, the Drutens Bosje, former brickworks sites, the old railway line and workers’ houses with glazed bricks. The four adjoining houses called Vier arbeidershuisjes Dericks en Geldens were formerly workers’ houses of the Dericks en Geldens brickworks.

At Steenfabriek Vogelensangh, bricks are made from river clay using hand moulds or moulding boxes. The building was constructed in 1919 and has the last coal-fired ring kiln in the Netherlands. At KLeiGoed Maas en Waal, you can visit an exhibition of unique decorative ceramics free of charge; experienced guides are available. Guided heritage walks are also offered there, preceded by a short presentation.

Another distinctive structure is De Drie Waaien, a stone gallery windmill built in 1869 for grinding grain. Along the routes, the focus is therefore not only on landscapes, but also on production history, residential buildings and historic architectural forms.

Seasons and local information

At Landwinkel and Fruittuin De Zandroos, the offerings change with the season: in spring, you can enjoy the blossom; in summer, buy or enjoy cherries and strawberries; in autumn, pick apples; and from mid-November, shop at the farm store. HIP & TIP provides information about cycling and hiking routes, ferries, historic buildings, events, exhibitions and performances.

The Pontje D'n Overkant connects Druten and Dodewaard across the Waal. It can be used by 24 passengers with or without bicycles.

More local pages

Druten, Puiflijk

Use the local pages to further refine your selection in the area around Druten.

For the higher-level travel overview: Gelderland.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Epe, Ermelo, Lingewaal, Groesbeek, Elburg, Nijkerk.