Holiday apartment in Heerde: Veluwe nature and paths along the IJssel

Heerde lies between Zwolle and Apeldoorn on the northernmost edge of the Veluwe; the IJssel lies to the east. As a result, the surrounding area combines woodland landscapes, heathland, waterways and historic estates.

Nature

Landgoed Petrea near Heerde is a Veluwe woodland landscape on the slopes of the Woldberg and is suitable for hiking and cycling. Coniferous forest, heathland, oak and beech avenues, and habitats for wild boar, roe deer and numerous bird species are part of this landscape. The Renderklippen form a 223-hectare hilly area with heathland and pine trees, featuring several marked hiking and cycling routes. The Schaapskooi is home to a flock of around 150 rare Veluwse Heideschapen, which are kept there from June to January.

De Dellen is a 454-hectare nature reserve with marked hiking trails. Visitors may see wild boar, red deer, badgers and pine martens there. In the Zwolse Bos, varied woodland alternates with heathland and several small fen lakes; among other things, visitors can observe or hear green woodpeckers, tawny owls, ravens, wild boar and roe deer.

Getting around

An extensive cycle-node network stretches across the Veluwe and along the IJssel and is used by most routes. Cyclists can cross the municipality from north to south on a cycle path following the route of a former railway, as well as on cycle paths along the dikes of the Hoogwatergeul; these offer wide views. The 13-kilometre Paddenpad connects the Veluwe and IJsselvallei landscapes around Wapenveld. It leads through forests, across the Stuwwal, along meadows, farms and drainage ditches, and through floodplain meadows. Along the way are, among other things, monuments, the Kloosterbos and the Klein Zwitserland heathland.

There are five Klompenpaden in Heerde, Veessen, Vorchten and Wapenveld, leading mainly over unpaved paths, farmland and historic routes. The 14-kilometre Vosbergenpad runs across Landgoed Vosbergen, past sprengen and former watermills, through streams and the Zwolse Bos, and onwards to the heathland on the Tonnenberg. Stages 15 and 16 also pass through the De Renderklippen, De Dellen and Zwolse Bos woodland areas from Heerde and Wapenveld towards the IJssel near Hattem.

Long-distance hiking trail section 16 crosses by ferry between Wijhe and Vorchten into the municipality of Heerde and continues through Vorchten and the Hoogwatergeul, along the Apeldoorns Kanaal and Landgoed Vosbergen, and past streams to Heerde.

Water

The Wijheseveer ferry connects Wijhe and Heerde across the IJssel. It carries pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, cars and lorries weighing up to 25 tonnes. In the immediate vicinity of Heerde, the volunteer-operated Kozakkenveer ferry takes cyclists from Veessen to the Duursche Waarden nature reserve in Overijssel; visitors can climb an observation tower there.

Heerderstrand has a beach and clean bathing water, and the recreational lake covers more than 20 hectares. A paved cycle path runs around Heerderstrand; it is also possible to walk around the lake in about 45 minutes. The cycle path leads west towards the forests of De Dellen and the Renderklippen heathland.

Culture

Landgoed Bonenburg is a historic country estate in Heerde with a history dating back to the 17th century. A large part of the more than 75-hectare grounds is publicly accessible as a walking area. The accessible historic Landgoed Vosbergen belongs to an estate with several historic buildings. Kasteel Vosbergen originally dates from the late 15th century and acquired its present form in 1623. Visitors can view it from all sides from the outer moat, hike across most of the estate and take part in guided summer walks.

Cultural and historic features of importance in Heerde include the Apeldoorns Kanaal, the sprengen stream system, the first and second country-estate zones, and historic paths across the heathland with deeply worn cart tracks and characteristic passages through the undulating cover-sand ridges. The Heerder Historisch Museum in Villa Jacoba displays Heerde art, archaeological finds, a Beken- en Sprengenkamer and a historic notary's office.

At the Watermolen van Rakhorst, visitors can enjoy a free digital, self-guided discovery tour of the grounds and through the historic mill using a smartphone and QR codes. The route passes, among other things, a stream, a millpond and the waterwheel. The Watermolencomplex has been a municipal monument since 2015. The history of the mill site goes back more than 500 years; it was first mentioned in 1499.

The Nederlands Zuivelmuseum in Wapenveld is an interactive family museum. Among other things, children can milk a life-size cow, take part in a farmyard treasure hunt and use a children's milk laboratory. Vrieze's Erfgoed is a three-hectare visitor site with information boards about history and the landscape, as well as the history of a Halifax bomber that crashed there. The site also includes an apiary, kitchen gardens, fields and grazing sheep.

Local life

Molen de Vlijt mills wheat using wind power and sells flour products, including pancake flour, at its own regional shop on Saturdays. Mölle van Bats still frequently mills grain using wind power; next to it are „De Stoom van Jan“, a steam mill, and the BATS! shop with a tourist information point.

The Heerder Streekmarkt takes place on the fourth Saturday in August. Regional products such as meat, cheese, vegetables, honey, syrup waffles and beer are offered, along with crafts from the surrounding area. For 2026, 29 August is listed.

More places to explore directly: Wapenveld, Heerde, Veessen.

For the broader travel overview: Gelderland.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Apeldoorn, Barneveld, Lochem, Brummen, Rozendaal.