The best walks and hikes around Aalten

First path

Aaltserse Goor ? Aaltense Goor !

Continuation of the inscription on the pages... p. 6) Saint George was the patron saint of knights. He slew the dragon, the monster of all evil. The gilded image of Saint George of Bredevoort adorns the spire of the old "Sint Joriskerk" (old St. George's Church, Market Square). IMAGE: Knight George on his horse, slaying the dragon with a lance. p. 7) The Nazareth Monastery, also called Schaer (sharp), also blessed Bredevoort. The monastery, 2 km away, was a center of knowledge and culture. Nobles met there, disputes were settled, and it was also a popular burial place. The prior of the monastery was also the parish priest of Bredevoort. The church was founded in 1429 by Knight Derck van Lintelo and the patrician Conrad Slindewater. It later became part of the main monastery in Windesheim near Zwolle. IMAGE: Coat of arms with 3 birds, 2 crossbars, and 1 semicircle p. 8) During the uprising against Spain in the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648), the flatlands around Bredevoort suffered greatly. Soldiers and mercenaries, both allies and enemies, plundered. Farms were often abandoned or destroyed, and most of the land lay fallow. Sometimes the flag of the Spanish king flew over the castle, other times the orange-white-blue flag. p. 9) Prince Maurice was well-versed in new technologies. In October 1597, his soldiers crossed the canals in a spectacular fashion. Floating cork bridges were constructed as pontoons over the water on the southwest side of the town. Bredevoort had already set its cannons alight beforehand. The fortress reverted from Spanish to state ownership (House of Orange). p. 10) Different times, different measures. From 1755 onward, the ramparts, the crescent-shaped fortifications, the bastions with their evocative names Fearless, Mourn Not, Intrepid, Proud Castle, Consequential, and Ox Head, the defensive ditches, and the gates were no longer necessary. Nature and humankind had done their work. Bredevoort lost "zijn jas, maar niet zijn kracht" (its cloak/cover, but not its strength). You have already read the pages of this book in the "book town of Bredevoort," a friend of all printed works since 1993.

This "history book" made of Corten steel is located at the northern end of the market square (behind Stadsbrouwerij de Borghman) at the corner of Het Zand and Kruittorenstraat. Five double-page spreads provide information about the origin and development of the town of Bredevoort. The following is written on it: S1) The only place where one could cross the surrounding marshes with dry feet was here: the Brede-Voorde (broad ford). A suitable location to build a castle. From here, one had good control over the roads, and the castle was difficult to conquer. The owners of the castle also ruled over the surrounding land. The oldest mention of "Castri Bredevurt" dates back to 1188. The Archbishop of Cologne (with three shares) and the Counts of Lohn were the lords of the castle. S2) The town grew up on the south side of the mighty castle. Behind the moats (the castle ditches surrounding the inner and outer castle walls), the feudal lords (Borgmänner) ruled over the Lordship of Bredevoort. This included the town and the villages of Aalten, Dinxperlo, and Winterswijk. IMAGE: Castle and town with inner and outer moats S3) It is unknown whether Brevoort, Breefoort, Breevorde, Bredervoert, Breedevoord, or Bredevoort possessed town privileges. However, they did have the right to mint coins, meaning they could produce their own coins and use them as currency. IMAGE: Coins of Bredevoort S4) The Dukes and Counts of Guelders coveted Bredevoort, as did the Bishops of Münster. Both held equal shares in the Lordship of Bredevoort. The noble feudal lords (Borgmänner) defended the castle and the town in armor and on horseback. PICTURE: Knight on a warhorse or tournament horse with sword, armor, helmet, and crest. (p. 5) Bredevoort was also a war gift. In 1388, Duke William of Guelders gifted the town of Bredevoort and the surrounding lands to Henry of Gemen in gratitude for his assistance during the campaigns in Guelders. Bredevoort was an attractive investment for nobles. This meant, however, a succession of different rulers, different laws, and sometimes higher taxes: The Gemen era lasted until 1492. The era under the Counts of Bentheim-Steinfurt lasted until 1526. The Lords of Guelders ruled again until 1562. Anholt held sway until 1612. Ultimately, the town belonged to the House of Orange.

You can enjoy delicious food at Grachthaus, Kruittorenstraat 1 in Bredevoort. From here you have a beautiful view of the Great Canal and Vestingpark. In summer, you can sit outside on the terrace and soak up the sun.

The large moat is a former defensive ditch in the northwest of the town of Bredevoort. Its shape still clearly reveals the course of the former ramparts and the Treurniet and Vreesniet bastions. Today, the Vestingpark is a picturesque park with paths, a bridge, old trees, a teahouse, a grotto, and a tree trail. In 1784, the former administrator, Bernard Andreas Roelvink, leased the remains of two bastions (Vreesniet and Treurniet) and the land between them (the present-day fortress park and orchard). Around 1850, he had an English garden laid out there, bordered to the northwest by the large moat.

De Heerlyckheid is a beautiful hotel with a bistro right next door, centrally located on Bredevoort's market square. Cyclists are also warmly welcomed at the bistro. During the day, they offer light snacks, ice cream, coffee, and cake, and in the evening, à la carte dining. In summer, you can relax on the outdoor terrace and enjoy a cocktail. HISTORICAL INFORMATION: The hotel is located in the former sanatorium "Haus St. Bernardus," where nuns once provided loving care. The part of today's fortress park where the Lourdes Grotto is now located and where the tuberculosis wards once stood belonged to Haus St. Bernardus and was the hospital's garden. Following the arrival of the French in 1795, administrative changes took place. The Bredevoort estate was divided. Haus St. Bernardus was permitted to be built on the grounds of the outer bailey in Bredevoort. The client was Jan Satink, a lieutenant colonel in the National Regiment of the Dutch Army. In 1897, the building came into the possession of Father Bernardus Mulders, who intended to establish a hospital there. The Roman Catholic St. Bernardus Sanatorium Foundation was founded under the direction of the Franciscan Sisters of Thuine. From 1933, the building was used as a retirement home, after which, in 1938, the Sisters of Thuine were replaced by the Sisters of St. Joseph from Amersfoort. In 1985, the last Sisters of the Order of St. Joseph left Bredevoort for good. In 1988, the building was renovated and expanded by the St. Bernardus Nursing Home Foundation, which also used it as a retirement home. In 2008, the nursing home moved to a new location. In 2015/16, the garden underwent extensive renovation, including the removal of diseased trees and the planting of new saplings. A suspended concrete walkway, over two meters wide, was constructed through the park, its concrete elements projecting approximately 25 cm above the ground. (Note: When I was there in winter, the concrete path was unusable due to icy conditions and the risk of slipping!) In 2016, Jos Betting and Nicole Prinsen purchased the former St. Bernardus building and extensively renovated it, and the Boutique Hotel & Brasserie DE HEERLYCKHEID finally opened in 2020.

The boutique hotel & brasserie DE HEERLYCKHEID is located directly on the market square in the heart of Bredevoort. De Heerlyckheid is committed to French cuisine, hospitality, and comfort, offering a diverse selection of food and drinks throughout the day. It is open daily. The lounge bar, bistro, and ice cream parlor: Here you can also enjoy sitting on the outdoor terrace and watching the activity around the market square. The menu offers something for every taste. I highly recommend the delicious homemade ice cream. BREAKFAST: Available by reservation only, not just for hotel guests; Mon-Fri from 7:00 AM, Sat & Sun 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM BISTRO: From drinks and pastries to delicious sandwiches and soups, it offers something for everyone. Open Mondays from 12 pm and Tuesdays-Sundays from 10 am Brasserie: À la carte dining: everything from appetizers and main courses to desserts is freshly prepared. Open Tuesdays-Saturdays from 5 pm High Tea: Available by reservation only for groups of 6 or more; a very special tea is offered between 12 pm and 4:30 pm. Celebrations: Available in the summer in the hotel garden or on the rooftop terrace for 20-75 people Boutique Hotel: Luxurious rooms in a beautifully renovated historic building. It offers comfort and tranquility in a beautiful natural setting.