Holiday apartment in Duiven: Rhine landscape, hiking trails and havezates

Duiven’s visitor attractions include nature reserves as well as hiking and cycling routes in Groessen and Loo. Between the Rhine river landscape, meadows, historic havezates and special places to visit, the surroundings offer a varied picture. Trails pass through floodplains and park landscapes, while Groessen and Loo are home to historic buildings, regional produce and recurring events.

Nature

The DuivenPad is a 6 km-long hiking trail with information about Duiven. The Kandiapad passes through the Rhine river landscape, crossing dykes, the riverbank landscape and church paths, as well as floodplains. Its route passes through the Jezuïetenwaai, where cattle and Konik horses graze. Today, the Jezuïetenwaai is a river floodplain where there is room for nature development and a great variety of breeding birds can be found.

The Husloapad also runs through the Rhine river landscape: over dykes, along the Waas, through floodplains and across meadows. Along the way, it passes the floodplain-side havezate Loowaard, which originally dates from the 15th century, and continues to Horsterpark. This route therefore combines open spaces, water landscapes and historic buildings.

Culture

Groessen is also the setting for recurring events. The Grote Omdracht in Groessen takes place every year on Trinity Sunday, the Sunday after Whitsun. The Stichting Avondvierdaagse Duiven organises a four-day walking event in Duiven, Groessen and Loo every year. During the Avondvierdaagse, participants can choose from three different route lengths.

One of the prominent historic buildings is Huis Loowaard, the largest havezate in the Liemers. The house was restored in the 21st century after a period of decline. Its history is also connected with Herman: he received Loowaard and built his own castle there around 1560 together with his wife, Digna van Isendoorn.

History

The havezate de Magerhorst was first mentioned in writing around 1400. Its house was built in the middle of the 16th century. The complex includes a stair tower with a machicolation described as rare in the Netherlands. Groessen is also home to the Sint-Andreaskerk, with a Romanesque tower dating from the first half of the 12th century; its Late Gothic nave dates from around 1500.

Huis Rijswijck in Groessen is a former havezate and a Rijksmonument. The site was already mentioned in 1328 and is one of the old fortified houses of the Liemers. The building is on private property and is not freely accessible to visitors. From the public road, however, visitors can view the exterior of the building and the tower of De Beerenclaauw. The remaining part of Molen De Welvaart can also be viewed from the public road.

Geographical setting

The landscape around Groessen is characterised by meadows, orchards and old farmhouses. The “Knooppad 4: Langs de Rijn en door groen Duiven” hiking trail is 16 km long, starts in Groessen and leads via Horsterpark and a green connection to Duiven.

Knooppad 4 passes several Waas between Groessen and Loo, as well as the ferry to Huissen. This ferry offers an opportunity to explore the Overbetuwe countryside. Horsterpark contains a wooded area with well-maintained hiking and cycling paths. For children, the park offers a petting zoo, a playground and a dwarf forest. Horsterpark also includes a pond complex with a small hand-operated ferry.

Local

During opening hours, the greenhouses and gardens of De Groene Schuur are fully accessible. Fruitkwekerij de Stokhorst sells home-grown vegetables and fruit all year round.

Other destinations

Other destinations: Heumen, Neerijnen, West Maas En Waal, Montferland, Hattem, Scherpenzeel

To the overarching travel overview: Gelderland.