Two distinctive landscape features shape Voerde (Lower Rhine): the Emscher Estuary, restored to a near-natural state, and the Momm Lowlands, a former bank of the Rhine that is home to rare species. Cycling along the Rhine dike and the local history of Haus Voerde and Mehrum add to the area’s range of themes. If you are looking for a hotel, you can start planning your stay around nature, cycling, or history.
Emscher Estuary and Momm Lowlands
The Emscher’s confluence with the Rhine was moved about 500 meters from the Dinslaken area to the municipal area of Voerde. It is a near-natural river delta created as part of the Emscher restoration project. A floodplain of just over 20 hectares was also prepared as part of the relocation. The relocated confluence, river delta, and floodplain are therefore part of a single landscape theme: the restoration of the Emscher and its transition into the Rhine.
The Momm Lowlands offer a different focus. They were formerly a bank of the Rhine and are home to many rare plants and animals. One of Germany’s largest populations of little owls lives there. Voerde’s natural attractions can thus be explored both through the design of the river’s mouth and through the importance of the lowlands as a habitat.
Cycling along the Rhine
A 10 km-long cycle path runs along the Rhine dike in Voerde. You can also cycle through the Momm Lowlands nature reserve; this ride is considered an alternative to cycling directly along the Rhine. The different details can help with planning: the dike cycle path has a specific length, while the landscape is the main focus when cycling through the lowlands. You can choose based on whether you prefer a route with a stated distance or a ride through the protected area.
Haus Voerde and the history of Mehrum
The moated castle of Haus Voerde is a historic attraction. The former kitchen garden of Haus Voerde is now used as a dye garden and school garden. The building and the garden’s use offer different perspectives on Haus Voerde. In Mehrum, a memorial commemorates the Allies’ crossing of the Rhine on the night of March 23–24, 1945. Here, the focus is on the memory of a precisely dated event. Anyone interested in local history will find both a historic building and a specific place of remembrance.
More to explore in the broader Wesel destination
The broader Wesel destination offers another historical highlight in Xanten. The LVR-Archaeological Park Xanten, Germany’s largest archaeological open-air museum, is located on the site of the Roman city of Colonia Ulpia Traiana. The LVR-Roman Museum displays numerous original finds from the Roman city and the two legionary camps. These finds tell the story of the city’s beginnings, heyday, and decline. The park and the Roman Museum regularly host demonstrations, festivals, and a variety of activities to watch and take part in. Specific dates and events vary; checking the current program can help with planning.
Bislicher Insel in Xanten is also a distinctive natural attraction in the broader Wesel destination. It is one of the last near-natural floodplain landscapes on the Lower Rhine, with much of the area protected as a nature reserve. In winter, the nature reserve provides a habitat for several thousand Arctic geese, especially greater white-fronted and barnacle geese. Three observation huts along the path offer views of the water; with a little luck, you can spot numerous bird species there. The best time to visit depends on what you want to see: the Momm Lowlands are known for rare plants and animals, including their little owl population, while Bislicher Insel is particularly associated with its wintering geese.
Explore more destinations: Alpen, Hamminkeln, Xanten, Voshövel, Moers, Kamp-Lintfort, Wesel, Neukirchen-Vluyn
Back to the broader travel guide: Wesel.
