Holiday apartment in Dalfsen – Kunstwegen and the Vecht landscape

Dalfsen combines distinctive landscapes with art, history, and recreation. Kunstwegen is a prominent expression of this character: the international art route is an open-air gallery more than 180 kilometres long that connects art, landscape, and history. It also passes through an important part of the municipality of Dalfsen and can be explored by bicycle or on foot. The area along the Vecht and its floodplains is shaped by nature, water, cultural history, and recreation.

Culture

In the centre of Dalfsen, there are monumental buildings and small streets that are suitable for visiting historic structures. The Grote Kerk was built in 1178 in the Gothic style, facing east-west and on elevated ground. The striking Blauwe Bogenbrug provides access to the village of Dalfsen. The Westermolen is also located in the village centre.

The history of the surrounding area also stretches far back: traces of a settlement dating back more than 5,000 years were found in Oosterdalfsen. The Oude Vechtsteeg between Dalfsen and the church village of Hoonhorst recalls the former course of the Vecht. It indicates the course of the river from the period before our era.

In Nieuwleusen, the Palthehof Museum presents the history of the village and its surroundings. Exhibits include objects from everyday life, traditional crafts, industrial activity, the Union bicycle factory, agriculture, and a fully furnished classroom. The Nationaal Grammofoonmuseum is located in the former town hall of Nieuwleusen and offers guided tours every day during opening hours. The Molen van Jan Massier stands on the Westeinde in Nieuwleusen; the Molen van Fakkert is located in Hoonhorst.

Nature

The landscape of Dalfsen extends from river dunes through es landscapes and wooded areas to landscapes with country estates. The former course of the Vecht can be recognised, among other features, by dead river branches and river dunes in the landscape of Dalfsen. As a result, different landscape forms stand alongside one another without merging into a single uniform landscape type.

The Rechterense Veld is located in the vicinity of Dalfsen and comprises forests, heathland, old earthwork fortifications, and field paths. You can walk freely along its roads and paths. Another route is the Hakhoutcultuur langs de Vecht. It follows paved and unpaved paths through the forest as well as grass paths.

Routes

The Hakhoutcultuur langs de Vecht starts at Stationsweg 2, 7722 HA Dalfsen; there is a train service there twice an hour. Several other routes also start at Dalfsen railway station. The Landgoederenroute begins there and is available in variants of 8.5 kilometres and 15 kilometres. The Uiterwaardenpad is a hiking route along the floodplains of the Overijsselse Vecht and also starts at Dalfsen railway station.

For longer cycling tours, the first stage of the Vechtdalroute follows a route of approximately 37 kilometres from Zwolle via Dalfsen to Vilsteren. Activities related to recreational boating take place on the Vecht in Dalfsen. The Scharrelroute Dalfsen/Vilsteren is a cycling route featuring regional products from agricultural stations; these products vary according to the season.

For further exploration, the local pages for Nieuwleusen, Dalfsen, and Lemelerveld are also available.

For the higher-level travel overview: Overijssel.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Hardenberg, Staphorst, Olst-Wijhe, Oldenzaal, Ommen.