The best walks and hikes around Gendringen

Engbergen is a beautiful recreation area. Here you can hike on well-maintained paths or stroll along narrow trails between fields and meadows. It's a wooded and heathland area with wetlands and artificially created biotopes. For example, Recreatie 't Lohr, located at Lohrpad 2 in Voorst, offers accommodation directly adjacent to the recreation area. It's designed for group outings for team building or for school groups.

Here, children can still run and romp around. They can climb up the hill, then down, and clamber over stones or tree trunks, hop from tree stumps or stone to stone, balance on logs, and play in the water. Just follow the barefoot path (green footprints indicate the way).

In Voorst, the footpaths and cycle paths are well-maintained with gravel. They are very pleasant to cycle on and also suitable for walking, even in bad weather. Often, a row of trees lines one side, providing shade in the summer and shelter from the wind in the winter.

From here you have a beautiful view of the Voorster Mill. It has been a landmark since 1866, when it was built.

A beautiful, wide pedestrian and cycle path, bordered by pollarded willows like an avenue, and a separate bridleway, also designed as a willow avenue. The pedestrian and cycle path is easily usable even in bad weather, as it is paved and covered with gravel. The bridleway, on the other hand, is a natural, grassy path. NAME: I can only guess why it's called "van Bonpad." The surname "van Bon" appears frequently in historical documents in the Bergen/Gendringen region. Whether this path belonged to the van Bon farm or led to it, I don't know. Perhaps a local could help me with that? What certainly fits is that the path is very beautiful and idyllic. And "bon" means good in French.

RESTAURANT VAN HAL The Van Hal Restaurant in Voorst (Achterhoek) was founded in 1905 as a café by Jannes van Hal next to the grain mill built in 1866. The brand became famous for its "half chickens," introduced in the early 1950s by Riek and Frans van Hal, of which more than 1 million have now been sold. A large bronze rooster sculpture stands as a symbol next to the entrance. 1905: Johannes (Jannes) van Hal obtained a license to sell spirits and opened a café on the grounds of the farm and mill. 1950s: Riek and Frans van Hal began serving their famous half chickens. 1958: This success led to official recognition as a restaurant. 1952: After the mill closed, and 1964: after the bakery closed, these premises were added to the restaurant. 2017: Owner Caspar van Hal (grandson of Riek and Frans van Hal), Grensweg 13 in Voorst, is still known today for its friendly Achterhoek atmosphere, and the famous half-chickens are still on the menu. Van Hal is a classic example of an Achterhoek restaurant that originated from a farm and a mill. (Source: "de lengendarische haantjes van van Hal": November 17, 2017) GRAIN MILL 1866/1899/2010: The associated grain mill was built in 1866 and operated by Jannes van Hal from 1899. After being damaged in the war, it was dismantled in 1957 but rebuilt and renovated in 2010.

From this wooden arched bridge onwards, the German Issel is called the Oude IJssel. A beautiful, gently flowing river. The pedestrian and cycle path runs almost entirely along its banks – very idyllic. On and along the water, you can observe grey herons, great egrets, mallards, coots, and the like. Swans, the heraldic animal of the Lords of Gendringen, also swim on the Oude IJssel. Next to the bridge, there is a launching and landing point for canoeists.

This beautiful wooden arched bridge connects Gendringen/NL with Voorst/NL and its lovely heathland. North of the bridge, the river is called the "Oude IJssel" and belongs to the Netherlands, while to the south, the same river is called the "Issel." South of the bridge, the border runs down the middle of the river (W=NL and O=DE). The pedestrian and cycle path is on the Dutch side.