Holiday apartment in Eefde: discover hiking trails, country estates and the IJssel

Eefde combines expansive trails, distinctive waterscapes and several historic country estates. When you choose a holiday apartment in Eefde, you can therefore tailor your stay to different interests: extensive walks, parks and forests, or the history of prominent buildings. The IJssel, the Eefde lock complex and the paths around the village each give the area its own character.

Hiking trails between the village, the IJssel and the country estates

One particularly varied way to explore Eefde is the Knapzakroute Eefde. The signposted route is more than 17 kilometres long and runs around and through the village. Along the way, it passes the IJssel, the Oude Eefde Beek, the parks and forests of the De Voorst and Het Haveke country estates, the Eefde lock complex and the Den Dam manor house. This allows water, woodland, open countryside and historic estates to be combined in one continuous hike.

For a shorter route or one with a different focus, the Ommetje Eefde is available. This route is marked with signs bearing green footprints. The two different route lengths help you adapt your plans to the desired duration of your day without reducing Eefde to a single excursion destination. The Het Haveke estate also adds to the hiking options: it includes a manor house built in 1860 and is surrounded by a 14-hectare English landscape park with woodland and well-maintained lawns.

Discover parklands and waterways

The Het Haveke estate has kilometres of hiking trails that are freely accessible to the public during the day. The Eefde lock complex offers a different landscape experience. It is located in the IJssel at the start of the Twente Canals. The area around the lock complex includes walking paths, an open space, a viewpoint, benches, a playground and bicycle racks. To the west lies a flower-rich meadow enclosed by a path for exploration.

The Eefse Beek is another part of Eefde’s natural character. This slow-flowing watercourse was formed by the natural confluence of waterways such as the Molenbeek, Huurnerbeek and Flierderbeek. Through the forest, the Eefse Beek still follows its natural, winding course with loops and bends.

Historic country estates around Eefde

The area’s architectural and garden history is also unusually diverse. The existing building at De Boedelhof was built in 1747 on the foundations of an earlier structure as an orangery. The present historic building was once an outbuilding of De Boedelhof House. Huis De Voorst was built between 1695 and 1700 for Arnold Joost van Keppel. Extensive gardens with water features in the classical style were laid out around Huis De Voorst.

Den Dam is a historic country estate that has been well preserved in terms of its structure and, in some respects, its details. It includes a main house, a historic garden and park, a coach house, a sundial, a greenhouse with cold frames, a gardener’s house and the Bosmanshuis farm with a bakehouse. Together with De Boedelhof, Huis De Voorst and Het Haveke, it creates a broad range of historic impressions that combines well with Eefde’s hiking trails and waterscapes.

More places to help plan your trip

If you would like to compare other places in addition to Eefde, you will find the direct destinations here for further orientation: Laren, Kring Van Dorth, Almen, Barchem, Gorssel.

For the overview of the wider area: Lochem.