Doesburg’s historic city centre, two museums with different themes and the walking trail along the Lage Linie defensive line appeal to a range of interests. For the city’s history, its medieval street layout and designation as a protected townscape offer a clear starting point. For travel planning, the nearest railway station in Dieren is an important reference point.
The historic townscape
Doesburg’s historic city centre was designated a protected townscape in 1974 and has a medieval street layout. It is home to more than 150 monuments, as well as narrow streets, old façades and atmospheric squares. The street layout describes the structure of the centre; the monuments and façades draw attention to individual features. Both scales are part of Doesburg’s historical character: the townscape that has evolved over time as well as its individual buildings.
Two museums, different themes
The Lalique Museum Doesburg in the historic centre is dedicated to René Lalique (1860–1945), a world-renowned French jewellery and glass artist. Alongside a permanent exhibition, the museum presents changing exhibitions featuring works by Lalique and his contemporaries. Its focus is therefore on one artist and his circle; the combination of permanent and temporary exhibitions adds a variety of exhibition content to this focus.
The Streekmuseum De Roode Tooren takes a broader thematic approach. Its collections include trade and crafts, religion, the fire service, folk art and folklore, flags and textiles, as well as archaeology and geology. It also features a working tobacco-cutting workshop dating from 1894 and a historic general store from the period 1880 to 1940. The two museums are thus clearly distinct: one centres on an artist, while the other ranges from trade and crafts to archaeology and geology.
Another historical point of reference is De Waag, also known as Hoge Huus. The building is said to be the oldest beer house in the Netherlands and dates from 1478. This individual historic building thus complements the museums’ themes with a specific date.
Walking trail and landscape
The Lage Linie defensive line offers a different focus. An unpaved walking trail runs along it and can be accessed from the Turfhaven or Kraakselaan. The surrounding area includes bodies of water as well as valuable reed beds and marshland. The trail and its surrounding landscape offer a different way to explore the area than the townscape and collections: here, the focus is on the walking trail and the aquatic and wetland areas.
Planning your journey and stay
The nearest railway station to Doesburg is in Dieren. Bus routes 26, 27 and 29 run to Doesburg from Dieren, Doetinchem and Arnhem. Dieren can be reached via the Arnhem–Zutphen or Dieren–Apeldoorn railway lines. If you are travelling by public transport, check the train and bus connections and current timetables before your travel date.
For the broader travel overview: Doesburg.
