Holiday apartment in Winterswijk: nature, mills and culture

At the Steengroeve quarry in Ratum, geological history lies exposed: visible is shell limestone that is more than 240 million years old. From a viewing wall along the path, you can also see ancient layers of the Earth. The quarry itself is not freely accessible outside organised walks. One way to descend into the quarry is offered by “Beleef de Steengroeve” – an approximately 1.5-hour guided walk.

Nature and geological history

The natural area includes the Nationaal Landschap Winterswijk, within which four Natura 2000 areas have been designated. The Natuurtocht Bekendelle leads around De Bekendelle and not through the protected primeval forest. Watermolen Den Helder is also located in a nature area on the Boven-Slinge. The listed twin watermill is also known as Plekenpolsemolen and Olliemölle. It was used for grinding grain and extracting oil; its earliest known mention dates from 1303.

Culture and craftsmanship

Winterswijk preserves traces of Jewish history, regional labour and technological development. The Winterswijk Synagogue, together with the mikveh, the residential house with school and the old cemetery, forms a historic complex. The entire complex is a Rijksmonument, meaning a Dutch national monument.

Museumwerkplaats Transit Oost presents the history of the textile industry, coal transport and former public transport in the eastern Netherlands. Transit Oost also displays a large model railway of the Winterswijk station area, as well as historic vehicles such as a T-Ford bus, a GSM bus and the “Blauwe Engel”. At the Museumfabriek, old, still operational looms are demonstrated. The underground depot contains 18,000 objects; the Museumfabriek also displays fossils, old objects and works by artists with a special connection to Winterswijk, including Max van Dam.

The Villa Mondriaan Museum displays works by the young Piet Mondriaan and places them in a new context every six months. Molen Bataaf has a permanent exhibition about the Scholten family. They founded the mill and contributed to shaping Winterswijk’s bocage landscape.

The mills themselves also tell stories of craftsmanship and technology. At Venemansmolen, you can see a stationary English Ruston diesel engine and learn how grain is milled using wind power; volunteer millers provide explanations. The visitor centre presents the informative and educational exhibition “Venemansmolen, eeuwig in beweging” about the history of the mill and the Venemans miller family. Berenschot's Watermolen is a restored watermill from 1652 that is still in operation and is used to mill grain.

Trails and special experiences

For cyclists, the Winterswijkse MTB-Route offers a free 38-kilometre route. It includes more than 12 kilometres of challenging single trails and a wall ride. The Achterhoek cycle junction network is connected to the Münsterland network; five cross-border routes have been created for this purpose.

A dedicated cycling route leads to all nine Vrijheidsbomen. It starts and ends at the freedom tree in Vrijheidspark, opposite the VVV Inspiratiepunt in the centre of Winterswijk. The “Vrijheidsbomen” project comprises nine works of art created in 2022 and 2023: one in each buurtschap and one in the centre of Winterswijk.

The “Ambachten in Winterswijk” route explores Winterswijk’s craft history, using six craftspeople from the period between 1880 and 1980 as its guide, and passes monumental buildings. The Doopsgezind Kerkje can be visited on request. De Storm theatre offers a broad programme of theatre, music, pop, classical performances, children’s events, readings and gatherings in the small hall. The Art Deco Astoria Theatre was built in 1925 as a theatre, concert and event hall and opened to the public in 2020.

Water and wine

Strandbad Winterswijk is a restored outdoor swimming pool dating from the 1930s. It has a sandy beach and spacious sunbathing lawns, including an area shaded by old trees. The facilities also include water play equipment and a high diving tower.

At Wijngaard Hesselink, guests can taste wine on the terrace overlooking the vineyards. On Thursdays, there is a guided tour from 15:00 to 17:00, followed by a wine tasting.

Railway stations and other places

Winterswijk has two railway stations. Winterswijk station is only a few minutes’ walk from the shopping centre, while Winterswijk West is near Streekziekenhuis Koningin Beatrix.

Other place pages in this selection: Winterswijk, Winterswijk Woold, Winterswijk Miste, Winterswijk Henxel, Winterswijk Kotten, Winterswijk Brinkheurne.

To the main travel overview: Gelderland.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Doesburg, Harderwijk.