Beusichem combines an unusual village layout with historic buildings, a long-standing horse market and trails through meadows and water-rich landscapes. When planning your trip, you can focus on different things: explore the village’s history, plan a visit to the theatre, or choose between walking and cycling routes. The Paardenmarkt is an annual highlight; the trails and the Dorpsboomgaard offer other ways to get to know the surrounding area.
A village with a distinctive shape
Beusichem has the elongated shape of what is known as a fork-shaped village: its streets converge in a fork-like pattern. The village centre is also officially designated as a protected townscape and village scene. Its listing bears reference number 1405 and the status “Aangewezen”. This designation adds a specific historical dimension to the village’s visible layout.
Church and historic farmhouses
The present-day Sint-Johannes-de-Doperkerk dates from the 15th or 16th century; its tower is older and dates back to the 12th century. At Ganzenoord, a farm in Beusichem, the living quarters are set crosswise beneath a thatched gabled roof between gables. Corner chimneys are also part of its architecture. The right-hand gable contains wall anchors bearing the year 1706.
Kattenburg offers another link to the past: the farmhouse dates from the early 19th century and likewise has living quarters set crosswise beneath a thatched gabled roof between gables. Dorpslust, in turn, is a house whose origins date back to the 16th century; a gabled roof between gables is also part of its traditional design. Together, the buildings offer different clues to the village’s architectural history, while their dates of origin should not be confused with one another.
Paardenmarkt and theatre
The Paardenmarkt Beusichem has been held since 1461 and attracts many visitors every year. The centuries-old horse market has grown into a festival weekend featuring a funfair, horse market, braderie and various performers in the festival tent. If you would like to plan your trip around the event, check the dates for your preferred travel period.
As an alternative to the festival, Theater Heerenlogement offers a programme of cabaret, small-scale performing arts and music. Each season features 40 to 45 professional performances; this number may change in future seasons. It is therefore worth checking the programme for the relevant season when planning your visit.
Walking the Engelroderpad
The Engelroderpad is a 16-kilometre circular walking route that starts and ends at Markt 5 in Beusichem (4112 JR). If you prefer a shorter walk, you can reduce the circular route to 14 or 8 kilometres. This lets you adapt the distance to the time available without implying that any of the options has a particular level of difficulty.
Along the way, the route passes through the countryside around Beusichem and Zoelmond, through historic village centres and across meadows. Standard orchards and water-rich nature are also part of the route as described. These landscape features distinguish it from a circuit focused solely on village streets. The “Heerlijke vergezichten langs de Lek” cycling route also starts in Beusichem, offering another way to explore the area by bike.
Water, cycling routes and seasons
Canoeing is possible at De Meent recreation park near Beusichem, in the municipality of Buren. Several walking and cycling paths run around the recreational lake. This adds paths beside a lake and an activity on the water to the longer circular walk. The Dorpsboomgaard in Beusichem offers trees, blossoms and fruit; flowering and fruit availability depend on the season.
Another cycling route, “Heerlijke vergezichten langs de Lek”, starts in Beusichem. The “De pontjes rond” route includes a ferry crossing between Beusichem and Wijk bij Duurstede. If you plan to take this ferry, check the timetable in advance. The cycling options therefore differ in their stated features: one route starts in Beusichem, while the other includes a ferry connection between two places.
When is the right time to visit for your interests?
If you are visiting mainly for the Paardenmarkt, make the event dates the starting point for your plans. Outside the festival weekend, the village’s history, the theatre and the different route options offer other specific reasons to visit. Searching for a holiday rental in Beusichem can therefore begin with the question of what matters most to you: village history, a performance, a festival, or time on walking and cycling trails.
Discover more destinations: Ommeren, Zoelen, Ingen, Asch, Lienden, Maurik, Eck en Wiel, Buren.
Back to the main travel overview: Buren.
