Book a holiday home in Lievelde and discover the National Landscape of Winterswijk!

Would you like to spot cranes in a peat bog, follow the Oude IJssel River all the way to Bocholt, or simply enjoy a walking holiday in the Achterhoek? Experience it all from a holiday home in Lievelde! In many places throughout the region, you can savour local treats such as cheesecake or apple pie in a tea garden, or take a pleasant coffee break at a rest stop. The Achterhoek is full of delightful surprises! Think of stately “Scholten” farmhouses in the middle of the countryside, vineyards, and idyllic watermills. And why not cross the border into Germany for a scenic drive to explore beautiful castles?

Visit the Erve Kots Farm Museum from your holiday home in Lievelde

A small farming hamlet that functions as an open-air museum, where you can also relax on the terrace for a drink or a pancake at De Herberg. Welcome to Erve Kots in Lievelde — a charming museum that takes you back in time! A horse-powered mill, traditional tools, a short film, and an audio tour bring you closer to rural life as it once was. Together with children, you can take part in a treasure hunt through the surroundings or go for a longer countryside walk. Along the way, you can buy local cheese at Weenink cheese farm. If you’re cycling, follow one of the three bike routes that take you through the stream landscape of the Boven Slinge and the Vragenderveen nature area.

Have fun at Megapret play paradise

If you’re looking for a large indoor and outdoor play paradise, you’re in luck near your holiday home in Lievelde! Spread across a spacious site, Megapret offers attractions and playgrounds that guarantee a full day of fun. Indoors, children can enjoy a bouncy castle with slides and even a toboggan run. Outside, the adventure continues with play structures, a water play park, and mini golf. Other fun highlights include a traffic park, pedal cars on rails, and firefighter water cannons.

Observe cranes in the Vragenderveen nature reserve

Discover the traditional agricultural landscape around Winterswijk and enjoy a walk through the Vragenderveen nature area. To start your birdwatching trip, you can first stop for a drink in the nearby village of Vragender. This raised bog is unique in the Netherlands, and for that reason, walking inside the reserve is only allowed with a guide. However, walking independently along the edge of the area is just as rewarding. There’s an accessible viewing point for observing cranes, surrounded by beautiful farmland that provides a scenic variety. Good to know: the observation post is only a short distance from the parking area.

Cycle past the Scholten heritage from your holiday home in Lievelde

Consider a cycling tour to explore the characteristic Scholten farmhouses. These farms often resemble stately manor houses, reflecting the wealth of the large landowners who played an important role in preserving the authentic landscape. A fine national monument is the granary on the Gossink estate in the hamlet of Ratum. You can stop for a walk at the junction of Gossinkweg and Vredenseweg.

Follow the Aalten tea garden route

Enjoying the Achterhoek landscape becomes even more delightful when you take a break at one of the region’s tea gardens. There’s even a signposted route that connects several of them. The entire Aalten Tea Garden Route is 45 kilometres long — about two and a half hours of cycling, not counting your delicious breaks! With tasty bites and country views, time simply flies. At Theetuin De Wacht, you can sit on a terrace overlooking the meadow, or perhaps secure a spot by the pond! For an even broader view of the countryside, stop by Theehuis Aan De Bosrand near Lichtenvoorde. Some spots aren’t official tea gardens but make charming rest points where you can enjoy coffee with a rural view — such as Rest Point De Maote along the Keizersbeek walking route.

Plan a day trip to Bocholt via Diepenbrock Castle

A day trip to the German town of Bocholt is well worth it — if only for the golden-yellow Diepenbrock Castle along the route. Once in Bocholt, even more beauty awaits you, such as the stunning town hall just a stone’s throw from the terraces. Visit the Textile Museum and see the weaving mill, where old machines still rattle and hum as they produce fabrics. Prefer to go by bike? Consider a scenic route along the Aa Strang River on your way there or back. Near the border with Dinxperlo, you’ll pass Brüggenhütte, a restaurant with an inviting outdoor terrace.

Take a day trip to Schloss Raesfeld

If you decide to drive to Bocholt by car, it’s well worth extending your trip to visit Schloss Raesfeld — a moated castle with a light-green spire. This tower, the tallest in Westphalia, resembles that of a church at first glance. Together with the pointed roofs of the outbuildings, the complex has the atmosphere of a monastic estate by the water. There’s more to discover around the castle, from benches at the end of the long park pond with views of the tower to the visitor centre. You can also explore the area on a short 1-kilometre loop or follow a longer 5-kilometre trail.

Rent a holiday home in Lievelde

Lievelde is one of the charming church villages of the Achterhoek and is best known for the open-air museum Erve Kots. With two restaurants — including a pancake house — it’s a beloved spot that pairs perfectly with marked walking and cycling routes through the surrounding countryside. Would you like to enjoy a sweet stop at a tea garden during your cycling route, or take a scenic walk after a drink by a watermill? Rent a holiday home in Lievelde and enjoy a relaxing holiday in the beautiful Achterhoek!