Discover diverse national monuments and country estates from a holiday home in Lochem

An area full of special highlights! This claim about the surroundings of Lochem is no empty boast. A city walk through the Gelderland town takes you past a synagogue, you’ll find remarkable trees on the estate of Huis Verwolde, and you can admire exuberant rhododendrons in the castle gardens of the Wiersse estate. Do you want to discover the Achterhoek from a holiday home in Lochem in a unique way? Take a tour on a Solex moped or sail along on the Berkelzomp!

Walk to the Staringkoepel from your holiday home in Lochem

Start your holiday in Lochem with a visit to a special spot along the River Berkel. Near Almen stands the Staringkoepel, a white tea pavilion that also serves as a lookout over the riverbanks. This little tower is the perfect reason for a walk, as it’s only accessible on foot. There’s a short 1.5-kilometre route from the car park on Dochterenseweg, or a 4.5-kilometre trail. Fun bonus: to reach the pavilion’s riverbank on the short route, you make a final crossing on a hand-operated pull ferry. The longer route starts at the same car park, but from the pavilion continues further along the Berkel and returns via the Twente Canal.

Take a walk past the Bleike herb garden and Cloese Castle

Lochem is a town that lends itself perfectly to a lovely city walk. It exudes a historic atmosphere with special buildings, starting with the gabled houses and the town hall on the Markt. There’s plenty to see along the way: a synagogue and a herb garden beside the city canal, where you’ll also find the picturesque Bleekhuisje. The garden is permanently accessible and beautifully situated by the water. Further along the route you’ll pass more national heritage monuments, including several stately villas. If you follow the course of the Berkel southwards, after 1 kilometre you’ll reach one of the area’s most beautiful castles: Cloese Castle. You can step straight onto the castle lawn on the riverbank via a bridge.

Excursion to Laren: Verwolde Castle and the Leussinkbad swimming pool

Another castle that definitely deserves a visit from your holiday home in Lochem is Huis Verwolde, a country house with a handsome white façade and a single tower. The house is surrounded by a lawn that flows into a parterre and a romantic landscape. Follow the tree trail, which leads past remarkable specimens such as the copper beech and the trumpet tree, which shows white blossoms among its leaves in June. The house is open for tours, and the Tea Room welcomes you with a menu ranging from coffee and cake to poffertjes and savoury lunch bites.

Tip: on warm days you can easily combine a visit to Huis Verwolde with a dip at the Leussinkbad on the other side of the provincial road. Not just for the cool-down, either—you’ll have heaps of fun splashing into the water from both a steep slide and a winding flume.

Fun activity from your holiday home in Lochem: a trip on the Berkelzomp

An authentic experience that will definitely enrich your holiday in Lochem is a trip on the Berkelzomp. This is a replica of an old flat-bottomed barge once used for trade with Germany. Step aboard and listen to the stories of the enthusiastic skipper. Meanwhile, enjoy the beautiful banks, where the river meanders picturesquely in places. The white Staringkoepel—set back beneath a sheltered line of trees and overlooking a meadow and the river—glides by. If you head the other way towards Borculo, you’ll pass Cloese Castle.

Cycle past windmills and visit Ruurlo Castle

If you go cycling around Lochem you’ll encounter plenty of windmills, from the nearby Zwiepse Molen to Agneta mill in Ruurlo. Along the way you’ll find two more mills, in Geesteren and Borculo respectively. The latter is a twin watermill—a picture-perfect spot that invites a short stroll. The historical highlight of the route lies just nearby: Ruurlo Castle! A beautiful medieval moated castle that once again provides the perfect excuse for a brief walk.

Take photos at De Wiersse estate

The Achterhoek’s Gelderland landscape is dotted with country estates. Some stand out like pearls, such as the castle garden of De Wiersse on the Baakse Beek stream. You’ll wander through a richly designed park that includes a herb garden, box hedges, a leafy arcade and a pond. Keep your camera ready—if there’s anywhere to take great photos, it’s here! Especially when the rhododendrons are in full bloom. They grow close to the house and also brighten the thickets along the pond. From Thursday to Saturday you can combine a visit to the landscape garden with a peek inside the house.

Combined excursion by Solex and canoe

A unique outing to consider from your holiday home in Lochem is a combo excursion of canoeing and riding a Solex. First you explore the area on a Solex, then you head to the transfer point for a canoe trip on the Berkel. You paddle back to the starting point via the river, where the package ends with a drink. The activity can be booked at voordeeluitjes.nl. On this website you can also reserve just a Solex tour from Laren and enjoy a long route through the Achterhoek’s coulisse landscape. Starting point for both activities: Deventerweg 67 in Laren.

Rent a holiday home in Lochem

When you go on holiday to Lochem you’re treated to sights worth seeing right in the landscape. Think of windmills along a cycling route that add extra character to the coulisse landscape, and monuments along the Berkel such as the Staringkoepel. After a terrace stop by the town hall of Lochem, take a city walk through the town and be surprised by a synagogue and stately villas. Are you considering a relaxing holiday in the Achterhoek? Book a holiday home in Lochem for a walk through the Wiersse castle park or take a legendary ride on a Solex!