The tower of the Dorpskerk Vorden is 44 metres high, dates from the 14th century and has Romanesque round-arched windows. This distinctive architectural detail offers a concrete starting point for exploring Vorden’s cultural history. The routes around the town also lead to a variety of points of interest, from historic sites in the village to parkland, country estates and castle landscapes.
Church, castle and local history
During the summer tourism season, the Dorpskerk is open to visitors on weekday afternoons from 2 to 4 pm. Volunteers tell the story of the church there. As these opening times are seasonal, it is advisable to check the latest information before your visit.
Kasteel Vorden was first mentioned as early as the 12th century. For the 2026 season, an audio tour is scheduled to run from 23 June to 31 October, Wednesday to Monday, between 11 am and 4 pm. Check the dates before your trip if the audio tour is an essential part of your plans.
Another way to explore Vorden’s history independently is the Tegelroute Vorden. This approximately 2-kilometre walking route passes 18 large granite photo tiles located at historic sites in the village. The route is suitable for wheelchairs and rollators. It can therefore be enjoyed as a village loop alongside a visit to the church or castle, without needing to plan a longer walk.
Routes with different character
The 8 Kastelentocht is the oldest signposted cycling route in the Netherlands. The VVV in Vorden devised it in 1913. Along the way, the route passes castles and country houses, crosses country estates and heathland, runs through forests, and follows meadows and fields around Vorden. This makes it a distinct way to combine scenery and historic buildings on a cycling tour.
For a walk, the 16-kilometre Hackfort walking route offers a different scale. It runs through and around Vorden, starts at the forecourt or car park of Hackfort or at Vorden station, and follows the blue arrows of the Achterhoek walking network. In terms of length, the approximately 2-kilometre Tegelroute is the shorter village loop; the Hackfort route is the longer walking option. Vorden station is on the Zutphen–Winterswijk railway line and is also one of the stated starting points for the walking route.
The Hackfortse Enkroute runs mostly across the Hackfort estate. The estate has centuries-old fields surrounded by hedgerows, coppice woodland, ponds and historic farmhouses. In spring, carpets of flowering Stinzen plants appear there; the estate is also home to the historic Hof van Hackfort kitchen garden. Keuken van Hackfort offers visitors refreshments made with ingredients from the estate. Check the latest opening information before visiting.
Country estates, nature and craftsmanship
At the Het Enzerinck estate between Vorden and Almen, you can walk through a parkland forest rich in birdlife and among organically farmed agricultural land. Three species of woodpecker and many songbirds, including blackcaps, robins and garden warblers, nest in the park. The birds you may see can vary with the seasons. Grootvaders Huisje also stands on the estate: it was built in 1920 for the landowner’s grandchildren and restored by Natuurmonumenten.
The Den Bramel en Het Enzerinck walk leads through the parkland forests of the two estates, past Den Bramel Castle and Het Enzerinck country house. It offers insight into the history of the estates, parkland forests and castles, as well as their natural surroundings. You can therefore choose a walk that focuses equally on the landscape and the history of these places.
The Hackfort landscape is also home to the Watermolen Hackfort. When water levels allow, volunteer millers grind grain there using the traditional mill and open it to the public. The volunteers also saw wood and use water power to grind grain into animal feed. Visits are therefore dependent on the water level; check the latest information before planning your visit.
The routes differ in length and content, offering practical guidance for planning your days.
Discover more destinations: Toldijk, Olburgen, Halle, Baak, Hummelo, Keijenborg, Steenderen, Wichmond.
Return to the main travel overview: Bronckhorst.
