In Zelhem, village history, remarkable buildings and trails through varied landscapes come together. The Tegelroute Zelhem offers a clearly defined walk: it is about 1.5 kilometres long and passes 17 large granite photo panels. The panels are set along pavements at historic sites in the village, and each measures 50 Ă— 50 centimetres. Wheelchair- and rollator-friendly, the walking route pairs the images with short descriptions that take visitors back in time.
Museum and architectural history
The Smedekinck farmstead has been mentioned since 1341 as a fief of the monastery in Werden, founded by Ludger. Since 2007, the restored farmstead and its barns have housed a permanent exhibition, regularly changing exhibitions and themed days. The museum explores the region’s origins and how the people of Zelhem lived over the centuries. Alongside the buildings themselves, the history of the place is also a central focus.
Today, the Ludgerkerkje stands beside Museum Smedekinck. It is a reconstruction that is as faithful to the original as possible of the chapel built on the site of the present-day Lambertikerk. The Lambertikerk is a late Gothic pseudo-basilica with a choir closed on three sides and a west tower; its origins are Romanesque. After collapsing in 1662, it was rebuilt. Anyone interested in architectural history will encounter both a reconstruction and a church building with several historical layers.
The history of the Coopsmolen, also known as the Nieuwe Molen, can also be traced through specific dates: it was built in 1818 and dismantled in 1939. On 30 June, it turned for the first time in more than 80 years.
Forest, trails and surrounding countryside
North of Zelhem lies the ’t Zand nature area, covering about 230 hectares and consisting mainly of coniferous forest. The Het Zandroute runs from Zelhem through the woodland of the ’t Zand estate towards Ruurlo. It follows avenues and forest paths before the wooded surroundings give way to a varied cultivated landscape with extensive meadows. The Klaapsinkroute takes in a different landscape: it runs through the Zelhem countryside alongside bodies of water, ditches, meadows, fields and woodland.
Langenberg offers another landmark for walks. Once a landfill, it is now a nature area with walking trails. The Um de Belroute runs through the countryside around Zelhem and reaches Langenberg; the Nordic Walkingroute Zelhem, by contrast, starts in the village centre and goes over Langenberg. These descriptions distinguish the routes by their courses without combining them into a single trail.
When choosing an outing, you can take the landscape as your guide: the Tegelroute links historic sites with photos and short texts, while the countryside trails described here highlight woodland, meadows, fields and bodies of water. If you are specifically looking for a walking route identified as wheelchair- and rollator-friendly, the Tegelroute has this feature.
Swimming and regional tradition
Zwembad De Brink has a deep pool at 31 °C, a family pool at 30.5 °C, a whirlpool, a toddlers’ pool and a paddling pool with a large yellow slide. If you include the swimming pool in your plans, check the latest visitor information before your visit.
A regional tradition takes you beyond Zelhem: at the Muldersfluite, at Zelhemseweg 44 between Hengelo and Zelhem, rye bread is traditionally weighed on Ascension Day. If you plan to attend, check the event details for the relevant year.
You can choose what to explore in Zelhem based on the focus of your stay: the Tegelroute, museum and churches highlight local history and architecture, while the countryside routes offer different perspectives on woodland, open landscapes and water. You can complement these themes with a visit to the swimming pool or a regional tradition, without combining them into a fixed route.
Discover more destinations: Hengelo, Wichmond, Toldijk, Halle, Steenderen, Baak, Keijenborg, Olburgen.
For the overview of the wider region: Bronckhorst.
