Wielen is a small village in the County of Bentheim in Lower Saxony and belongs to the Uelsen Joint Municipality. As a border municipality, it lies at the westernmost end of the joint municipality. The westernmost boundary stone in Lower Saxony is located in Wielen. Several local roads from Wielen also cross the so-called Green Border. This border location and the village’s history offer travelers concrete points of connection when they want to combine a stay with regional history.
Border Location and School History in Wielen
Wielen is home to het Schöltien, regarded as the oldest surviving school in the Lower County of Bentheim. The school’s former student body also reflects the village’s location: historically, students came from neighboring areas of the Netherlands, including Hardenberg and Radewijk. The old school closed on March 21, 1964, after 58 years of operation. The boundary stone and school history thus offer two different perspectives on Wielen—its geographical location on the one hand and former cross-border connections in everyday school life on the other.
Hiking and Cycling in the County of Bentheim
Those planning excursions beyond Wielen will find regional hiking opportunities in the County of Bentheim. The Grafschafter Spurensuche comprises more than 320 kilometers of marked trails through all the towns and municipalities in the county. It includes 15 themed day tours. Another option for a longer route is the 80-kilometer long-distance hiking trail “Auf den Spuren der Podagristen,” which connects Bad Bentheim with Coevorden in the Netherlands. You can choose between themed day tours and a long-distance hike with set start and end points.
There are also different options for cycling tours. The cross-border Grafschafter Fietsentour is a route network with a 220-kilometer main route and 25 day loops of at least 28 kilometers. The Uelsen Joint Municipality’s tourism service offers six mapped circular tours. In addition, three rural cycling routes run mostly along rideable gravel paths through meadows, woods, and fields. This gives you the option of comparing the longer main route and its day loops with the circular tours and the scenic cycling routes described for Uelsen. Route details may change; check them before planning your trip.
Landscape, Art, and Museums in the County
In the County of Bentheim, heathland, raised and lowland bogs, wooded ridges, and the Vechte River valley alternate. One cultural point of interest in the county is kunstwegen: the open-air museum for contemporary art, nature, and history was created through German-Dutch cooperation. It extends for more than 180 kilometers through the Vechte valley, with more than 80 sculpture projects along the route.
In Nordhorn, other attractions showcase different aspects of regional history. The Maritime Museum covers 350 square meters and features, among other things, historic ship models, nautical instruments, nautical charts, and information about shipbuilding. The town museum uses three listed industrial buildings for permanent and special exhibitions. Thus, within the County of Bentheim, visitors can choose between outdoor art, maritime collections, and exhibitions in historic industrial buildings.
Staying and Planning Your Visit
Tourist overnight guests in the County of Bentheim can use buses and trains throughout the county free of charge with the Grafschafter Guest Card; the card is required to do so. Conditions may change, so check the latest information before traveling. When choosing a hotel, it is worth considering separately the destinations you actually plan to visit: Wielen’s local history, regional hiking and cycling routes, or museums in Nordhorn. Then check the location of each destination, along with current route and guest-card information.
Discover more destinations: Getelo, Uelsen, Neuenhaus, Nordhorn, Lage, Wilsum, Emlichheim, Itterbeck
Go to the main travel overview: County of Bentheim.
