Holiday apartment in Raalte surrounded by nature trails and culture

Raalte combines nature reserves, historic trails, museums, crafts, theatres and lively local festivals. Between the Boetelerveld, the Sallandse Heuvelrug and the cultural attractions in Raalte, Heeten, Luttenberg and Mariënheem, there are very different destinations for active, cultural and family-oriented days out.

Nature and trails

The Boetelerveld is a 170-hectare nature reserve and is designated as a Natura 2000 site. It is known for the marsh gentian and the great crested newt. The 4 km Boetelerveld hiking route leads through the remaining wet heathland near Raalte, which is associated with rare plants and animals. Today, the canal serves exclusively a recreational purpose and has high natural value.

The De Luttenberg nature reserve borders the village of Luttenberg and is part of Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park. A short trail there features significant differences in elevation. The Luttenberg Belevingsroute leads through woodland and heathland and is a family and educational route with information about plants, animals and cultural heritage; it is suitable for children up to 12 years old.

The 5 km Dorpswandeling Raalte represents the local history. It leads through the village and conveys the history of Raalte. The 18 km Van kerk naar kasteel hiking route runs through Raalte, the Boetelerveld, Schoonheten and the Heeterveld and conveys the cultural and historical story of the landscape.

History and townscapes

The Van kerk naar kasteel route begins and ends at the Plaskerk. The single-nave Late Gothic church is located about 700 metres from Raalte railway station and features religious secco ceiling paintings from the 15th century. In Mariënheem, the Onze Lieve Vrouw ten Hemelopneming complex consists of a church and a presbytery, built in 1937 in a style influenced by the Delft School.

At the KulturhusTrefpunt Heeten, the Germanenkamer presents archaeological finds, 3D images, animations and film footage about the Germanic peoples in Heeten. Expeditie Heeten includes an approximately 3 km walk from the Germanenkamer to places where special archaeological finds were discovered. It also includes an approximately 35 km cycling route through the surrounding area of Heeten, passing canal bridges, a V1 launch site and historic farmhouses.

Culture and crafts

Beeldentuin Mariënheem is a sculpture garden open to visitors and a gallery in Mariënheem in the municipality of Raalte. Covering more than 3 hectares, it contains ponds, lawns, trees and an orchard; the outdoor area features sculptures and objects. Museum De Laarman is housed in a former animal-feed factory, where a large part of the original facility has been preserved.

The American Motorcycle Museum in Raalte displays American motorcycles from the beginning of the 20th century through the 1980s. The museum organises a Swapmeet twice a year. The museum can be reached by bus or train: Raalte railway station, on the Zwolle–Enschede line, is about a 10-minute walk away, and bus line 165 runs from Deventer to this station.

FilmHuisRaalte shows films in the Annahuis cinema, De Plas 8 in Raalte. At the HOFtheater in Raalte in the province of Overijssel, audiences can expect a medium-sized theatre with a circular auditorium seating 300 people. The HOFtheater presents around 80 professional performances annually. At Dijkman Klompenatelier in Luttenberg, visitors can watch demonstrations of wooden shoe production, while Magies Glas in Raalte offers workshops in leaded glass, Tiffany, glass painting, glass fusing, slumping and casting.

Family attractions and festivals

De Flierefluiter in Raalte combines an indoor, outdoor and water playground with a petting zoo and a mini-campsite. Stöppelhaene originally began as a harvest festival at the end of summer; during the five-day event, numerous activities take place throughout Raalte town centre.

At the Tuinen van Salland, some of the participating gardens are open to the public on the first Sunday of each month. For group visits, guided tours with coffee, tea and something tasty can be offered.

Other places

Other local pages: Heeten, Heino, Nieuw-Heeten, Raalte, Laag Zuthem, Luttenberg, Broekland.

To the overarching travel overview: Overijssel.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Wierden.