Discover the characteristic landscape of the Achterhoek from your holiday home in Zelhem

Zelhem lies in the heart of the Achterhoek and is surrounded by a great variety of landscapes. One moment you’re walking through forest, the next you’re strolling past raised arable fields. Also typical of a cycling tour from Zelhem is the so-called kampenlandschap: a patchwork of open grasslands, farmlands and hedgerows. Do you love lacing up your hiking boots on holiday? Set out on foot from your holiday home in Zelhem to discover and admire the centuries-old landscape and its elegant country estates. There’s always something to uncover along the way—from castles to hamlets and museums!

Discover various castles from your holiday home in Zelhem

Amid the ancient cultural landscape of the Achterhoek, you’ll encounter numerous castles—indeed, most of the castles you’ll find in the Netherlands are in this region. One of the best known is Castle Ruurlo. Cycling from Zelhem via the ’t Zand estate, you’ll initially ride through a wooded area, but further along the route the forests give way to beautiful “coulisse” scenery with expansive meadows. Another castle that sits slightly off the usual “castle route” but is well worth a visit on foot is Castle Slangenburg. No fewer than five walking trails lead you across the splendid estate, including a wheelchair-friendly route. Don’t skip a look inside the castle: admire in hushed awe the paintings used as wall and ceiling coverings, integrated seamlessly with the interior.

Tip: after your castle visit, set a course for the lively, welcoming city of Doetinchem. It’s great for shopping and terrace-hopping, and you can even rent a canoe for a trip on the Oude IJssel.

Visit the regional history museum Smedekinck

Close to your holiday home in Zelhem you’ll find a museum that takes you back into the Achterhoek’s past: Museum Smedekinck. This heritage museum offers a vivid impression of how local people once lived and worked. Step into an old classroom with wooden benches, a traditional grocer’s shop, and learn more about regional history during the Second World War. The collection of artefacts is impressive, and Zelhem’s 700-year history is explored in depth. Fun extra: groups can reserve a table for coffee with krentenwegge (currant bread), a slice of cake, or even lunch!

Tree frogs and marsh gentian along the Boelekeerlsepad

A lovely walk on the edge of Zelhem is the Boelekeerlsepad. Start at De Boldiek, a farm with an outdoor terrace where you can enjoy coffee or lunch at the edge of a meadow. The route then leads alternately through forest and open countryside to the Heidenhoekse Vloed nature reserve. Along the way you may spot European tree frogs; in the evening you can listen to their croaking chorus! You’ll also pass marshy sections where wildflowers bloom, including the blue marsh gentian.

Take a castle walk around Vorden from your holiday home in Zelhem

Want to visit several castles on a single hike? Around the town of Vorden lie three castles included in the “three-castle walk”. At 11 kilometres, the route is very doable. You’ll first come to private Castle Bramel, where only the estate grounds are accessible. The other two—Castles Hackfort and Vorden—are open to the public. Castle Hackfort is beautifully visible from multiple angles, and a highlight is the old watermill on the estate. The loop through Castle Vorden’s gardens is also delightful, with a winding path along the moat. Although this castle is privately owned, it welcomes visitors for tours from Wednesday to Monday.

Step into the world of Charles Dickens

Fancy admiring an enormous book collection as if you were in an antique library? You can at the Charles Dickens Museum in Braamt! Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Victorian era and the life of Charles Dickens, who highlighted the gap between rich and poor with both humour and drama. With his socially critical mind and masterful storytelling, he captivated all layers of society with timeless novels such as Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol. The museum also paints a clear picture of the rapid industrialisation of 19th-century England.

Bronkhorst: the smallest town in the Netherlands

The Charles Dickens Museum used to be located in Bronkhorst. Although the town has one less museum today, it remains a favourite stop for holidaymakers in the region. You’ll find many small farmhouses clustered together, giving it the feel of an open-air museum. Despite its tiny size, there’s no shortage of terraces, and in winter visitors love to stroll through this picturesque place for its Christmas market. Close to Bronkhorst you can also enjoy a fine walk near the village of Baak. Following the blue route, you’ll pass points of interest such as an imposing ruin, a neo-Gothic church and a white manor house. For children there’s a shorter trail that leads past a deer enclosure, climbing frames and a zip line.

Megapret play paradise

The name of this playground in Lievelde isn’t an exaggeration: kids can have mega amounts of fun both indoors and out! Think pedal cars on the traffic course, or the water playground where you can soak each other with fire hoses. Megapret is truly a family park: parents can enjoy a mini-golf course and “snooker-golf” too. On a rainy day there’s plenty to do indoors, with various slides, climbing structures and even an indoor toboggan run!

Rent a holiday home in Zelhem

Thanks to Zelhem’s central location in the Achterhoek, you can discover so much from here—from a walk past three castles near Vorden to various museums such as the Charles Dickens Museum in Braamt. Cycle through the centuries-old cultural landscape to the historic town of Bronckhorst, and take a varied walk on the adjoining Huize Baak estate. Want to take the kids somewhere they can run wild, play to their hearts’ content and even challenge you to a round of mini-golf? Rent a holiday home in Zelhem and take the whole family to Megapret in Lievelde!