The best walks and hikes around Grave

Unfortunately, the gravel has made way for cobblestones

Do not skip. This is a highlight!

Two monasteries and a small church in the small town of Velp.

A beautiful, sturdy bridge. On the Grave side. You can see a bunker. There's a monument next to it with information about the Second World War. Turning the wheel plays a spoken commentary. Definitely worth listening to.

many meadow landscapes along the dike

The 82nd Airborne Memorial in Grave commemorates the deployment of the American 82nd Airborne Regiment during Operation Market Garden in September 1944. The airborne troops captured the strategically important bridge at Grave, enabling the Allied advance towards Nijmegen and Arnhem. The memorial is located near the John S. Thompson Bridge and marks the spot where soldiers entered the village and secured the Maas Bridge. It consists of a stone memorial with a plaque and commemorative symbols and is maintained by local historical societies. It is a landmark for walkers and visitors who want to learn more about Grave's wartime history and the crucial role of the 82nd Airborne in the liberation of the region.

The Hertogswetering is one of the oldest watercourses in the area around Grave and Velp. This long, straight watercourse was constructed in the Middle Ages as part of the drainage system for the Land van Cuijk region. The construction of this watercourse improved the drainage of the wetlands south of the Meuse River and made them suitable for agriculture. The watercourse flows through an open landscape of fields and grasslands and is fed by smaller ditches and springs in the surrounding area. Over the centuries, it has been straightened and deepened several times, but the original character of a classic Brabant watercourse has been preserved. Along the banks, you'll find reed beds, old pollard willows, and several historic farms that owe their location to the watercourse. On hiking trails in this region, the Hertogswetering often forms a tranquil and recognizable landscape element, offering wide views of the surrounding countryside.

A triangle of silence, history, and Brabant monastic culture In the heart of Velp, three striking sites lie almost as neighbors: the Emmaus Monastery, the Bronckhorst Castle Monastery, and the Vincentius Church. Together, they form a compact yet surprisingly rich concentration of religious heritage—a place where Brabant's monastic history is tangible in its stones, gardens, and ancient lanes. The Emmaus Monastery is the largest and most recognizable complex. Built in the early 20th century, the monastery exudes the subdued atmosphere of a time when religious communities still played a central role in village life. The long facades, the walled monastery garden, and the tranquility surrounding the building fit seamlessly into the landscape of Ons Kloosterpad (Our Monastery Path). For years, it was a place of reflection, study, and work rhythm, and that serenity still pervades. A short distance away stands the Bronckhorst Castle Monastery, a striking name that recalls its original purpose. The complex has its roots in an old estate and was later used by religious congregations. Therefore, it has a touch of both a country estate and a monastery. The combination of historic architecture and monastic simplicity makes it a unique transition between secular and religious heritage. In between stands the Vincentius Church, a village church that has been the religious center of Velp for generations. The tower is a familiar silhouette in the landscape, and inside, you'll find the style characteristic of Brabant village churches: modest, yet with attention to detail and tradition. The church forms, as it were, the connecting link between the monasteries and daily village life. Walking here, you move through a small area where three different layers of religious history intersect: the tranquility of monastic life, the allure of an old estate, and the familiarity of the village church. None of these three stands alone; together, they tell the story of Velp as a monastic village—a place where religion, culture, and history blend naturally.