Built around 1270, the watermill anchors Lage’s local history in a specific use: it was constructed as a grain and oil mill. The church, manor house and history of the former castle reveal further historical layers; Lager Busch adds forests and meadows along the Dinkel to the picture. As a destination, Lage thus combines local history with a range of landscape settings.
Watermill and historic village centre
The historic village centre of Lage is centred around the old watermill. It stands along the former course of the Dinkel. Within the wider Grafschaft Bentheim destination, the watermill in Lage is almost 750 years old and has two water wheels: one for producing flour, the other for producing vegetable oil. The mill can be demonstrated in operation on selected days; demonstration dates may vary depending on the season and local schedule. If seeing it in operation is important to you, check in advance when a demonstration is scheduled.
Church, manor house and former castle
The Protestant Reformed Church in Lage was built between 1687 and 1688. It is a brick hall church with sandstone surrounds on its doors and windows. The manor house in Lage dates from 1686 and displays Dutch architectural character. It is not open to the public.
Lage’s former castle was an important stronghold until the Eighty Years’ War. After the count withdrew, it was destroyed by Dutch troops. Its history therefore belongs to a different historical layer from the architectural history of the church and manor house: the focus is on its former role as a stronghold and the end of the castle.
Landscape along the Dinkel
The landscape also offers two distinct features. The watermill stands along the former course of the Dinkel; Lager Busch is a landscape of forests and meadows on the edge of the Dinkel. The focus at the mill is therefore on the river’s historic course, while at Lager Busch it is on the combination of forest, meadows and riverbank. These descriptions offer a nature perspective alongside Lage’s architectural and historical themes.
Grafschaft Bentheim as a wider travel setting
Across the wider Grafschaft Bentheim destination, heathland, raised and lowland bogs, wooded ridges and the Vechte river valley alternate. One specific example is Itterbecker Heide, a nature reserve covering around 85 hectares. This means the region’s landscape has more to offer than the Dinkel settings that shape Lage.
Grafschaft Bentheim also offers other distinct cultural attractions. Kunstwegen is an open-air museum of contemporary art, nature and history. It stretches for more than 180 kilometres through the Vechte valley; more than 80 sculpture projects are located along the route, which passes through Nordhorn. The Bronzezeithof in Uelsen offers a different perspective on history: this reconstructed prehistoric farmstead provides insight into the lives of people in the Bronze Age at Riedberg.
Nordhorn offers further points of interest for the history of art and technology. The Maritime Museum covers 350 square metres and displays, among other things, historic ship models, nautical instruments, sea charts and information on shipbuilding. The town museum uses three listed industrial buildings for permanent and special exhibitions. The main route of the Grafschafter Fietsentour is about 220 kilometres long and passes through every municipality in the district. Route details may change; check the information in advance when planning your trip.
Tourists staying overnight in Grafschaft Bentheim can use buses and trains throughout the district free of charge with the Grafschafter guest card. Use requires the guest card and tourist overnight guest status. Check the current conditions before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Nordhorn, Getelo, Wilsum, Engden, Bad Bentheim, Itterbeck, SchĂĽttorf, Wietmarschen.
Back to the regional travel overview: Grafschaft Bentheim.
