Rees is located directly on the Rhine. Its historic town fortifications, the Municipal Koenraad Bosman Museum, and walking and cycling routes offer different ways to shape your stay. When planning, you can choose between local history and art, boat trips, and tours through the Lower Rhine countryside.
Local History and Art in Rees
Rees was granted town status by the Archbishop of Cologne on 14 July 1228. Its 15th-century history includes Hanseatic trade and its designation as a Hanseatic town in an alliance with towns in the eastern Netherlands. The historic town fortifications comprise six successive defensive systems dating from the 12th to the 18th century, built by four European nations. Their history thus spans several centuries and offers a tangible insight into the development of fortifications.
The Municipal Koenraad Bosman Museum Rees focuses on two areas: art and local history. Beneath the museum building is a casemate built around 1500 for lighter guns. The Rees Sculpture Park is also part of the cultural offering. Together, these places showcase different aspects of local culture, from town history and military architecture to art.
One guided option is the tour “In the Footsteps of the Oldest Town on the Lower Rhine.” It takes you through the historic town center and provides a general introduction to the history of Rees, along with information about sights and monuments. Dates and booking arrangements may change; check them in advance.
The Rhine, the Planet Trail and Cycling Tours
From the Rees Rhine promenade, visitors can take the passenger ferry to the opposite bank or start a trip on the Rhine aboard the passenger boats “Stadt Rees” and “Germania.” This gives you a choice between crossing the river and taking a boat trip. If you plan to take the ferry, check the timetable in advance.
The approximately 22 km Planet Route starts at the Sculpture Park in Rees and follows the first planet trail on the Lower Rhine onto the dike and along the cycle path to Rees-Mehr. Before setting out, check for any temporary diversions. The Planet Trail combines a walk through the Lower Rhine countryside with information about the Sun and planets. The Planet Walking Trail in Rees represents the solar system at a scale of 1:1 billion.
Rees and its surroundings also have 19 signposted cycling tours ranging from 17 to 140 km. They pass through the Rees municipal area, the surrounding countryside and neighboring towns. The range of route lengths provides a practical basis for comparison when deciding whether to include a shorter route or a longer bike ride in your plans.
Cycling Plans Across the Wider Kleve Destination
In the wider Kleve destination, cycling extends beyond the Rees routes. Kleve district has more than 1,500 km of cycle paths and numerous themed routes. A pocket guide, when unfolded, shows all the junctions in Kleve district and includes information about how the district-wide junction system works. Also within this regional area is the 128 km, signposted Niers Cycle Route, which runs from the source of the Niers in Mönchengladbach through the districts of Viersen and Kleve to the municipality of Gennep in the Netherlands.
Discover more destinations: Kalkar, Kevelaer, Kranenburg, Rheurdt, Straelen, Appeldorn, Uedem, Bedburg-Hau.
Go to the overview of the wider destination: Kleve.
