Holiday apartment in Tiel – History and Betuwe landscape

Tiel combines a long trading history with the landscapes and traditions of the Betuwe. At the Flipje en Streekmuseum Tiel, the history of Tiel and the Betuwe is told – from fruit growing and trade to everyday life in the region. Archaeological objects dating back up to 6,000 years are also on display. The museum also focuses on a solar calendar approximately 4,000 years old, which is among the oldest traces of settlement and ritual use in the region.

Culture and history

As early as around the year 1000, long before the Hanseatic League, Tiel was an important trading city. The city had its own customs law and its own mint. The Tiels Heiligdom, a 4,000-year-old sanctuary connected with the sun, is located on the Medel business park. This sanctuary was in use for 800 years.

The guided Stadswandeling Tiel explores the city's historic sites and stories. The approximately one-and-a-half-hour city tour takes visitors to remarkable historic sites and special places in the city centre and conveys stories from Tiel's past. The city tour programme includes themed tours on Hanseatic and trading history, 6,000 years of Tiel, Jewish Tiel, and the floating heritage. The Wandelroute Hanzestad Tiel leads through the city centre past buildings and places connected with Tiel's history as a Hanseatic city.

For theatre and film, the Schouwburg & Filmtheater Agnietenhof serves as a venue in Tiel. Appelpop also has a long tradition: the festival began as a free celebration on the Waalkade in Tiel and developed into an established tradition for tens of thousands of music lovers. The programme includes bands from the top of the Dutch music industry, international acts, acts from the pop concert scene, and regional talent. In addition to the music programme, there is a festival market every year with CDs, T-shirts, sunglasses, and other items.

Nature and routes

Vlindertuin de Zindering is open all year round and free to enter. The butterfly garden can be reached on foot from Tiel NS railway station in approximately seven minutes. The Linge also shapes the surrounding area: it is popular with recreational visitors and winds mostly naturally through a landscape of orchards, meadows, and willow scrub.

The Fietsroute Rondje Tiel leads through the Betuwe landscape around Tiel and over dikes. Along the way are orchards, locks, churches, castles, and typical Betuwe farmhouses. Those who want to take to the water can canoe at Aan de Linge, Lingeweg 18b in Tiel.

Festivals and regional specialities

At the Fruitfestival, various corso associations from Tiel and the surrounding villages show the public large fruit creations. These are displayed on the Taluud. Tielse Kermiskoek is also part of the regional culture: it has been included in the Dutch National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage and is sold throughout the year.

In Zennewijnen on the outskirts of Tiel, Tiels Fruit produces pear syrup by hand according to its own recipe. The syrup consists of 100 per cent pears and natural ingredients, contains no artificial additives, and is bottled by hand in sustainable glass bottles. During the Betuwse-Zelfpluk days in June and July, visitors can pick cherries themselves in a designated area of the Streeckerij De Betuwe orchard.

Experiences with children

At Hertenkamp Tiel, visitors can feed and pet goats, deer, rabbits, and donkeys. Hertenkamp also has a playground for children. The Bij-zondere Speurtocht for children connects Hertenkamp Tiel with Vlindertuin de Zindering.

Getting there and information

Tiel has two railway stations: Tiel Centraal and Tiel Passewaaij. The Toeristisch Informatie Punt Tiel provides information about Tiel and numerous cycling and walking routes, and distributes the magazine “Uit in Tiel” free of charge.

More destinations

The following destinations are available for further location selection: Kapel Avezaath, Tiel, Ubbergen, Winterswijk, Buren, Lingewaard, Doesburg, and Heerde.

To the higher-level travel overview: Gelderland.