Spijk lies on the Boven-Rijn where the river enters the Netherlands from Germany. The village is just beyond the Spijksedijk. Its riverside setting, industrial history and local memorials give a stay several distinct points of interest: you can combine routes along the water with insights into the history of the brick industry and village traditions.

Walks and routes along the Boven-Rijn

The Spijksedijk is suitable for a walk or a cycle ride along the Rhine. The Rijnweidepad, which runs between Spijk and Lobith, offers another way to explore the area: the Boven-Rijn lies to the left and the Tengnagelwaard to the right. Here, the river and floodplain landscape lie on either side of the path.

A public riverside path (Struinpad) with seating and picnic tables runs around Spijk’s overnight harbour. This means there is both an opportunity to get active by the water along the Spijksedijk and a riverside path with places to take a break. If you would rather plan a walk with a rest stop, Het Uutblaoshuukske is on the Pieterpad route: the rest area is intended for walkers and cyclists.

Traces of the brick industry

The brick industry has strongly shaped Spijk since the 19th century. At Spijksedijk 25, the hoist crane with loading quay is one of the few surviving examples of a complex associated with a brickworks. Het Kraantje is an electric wagon-turning crane built in 1928 for the then NV Hollands-Duitse Steenfabriek.

The bronze memorial Steenovenarbeider is also part of this story: it is dedicated to the workers at Spijk’s brickworks. Alongside the surviving structures, the artwork draws attention to the people whose working lives also shaped the village’s history.

Church, remembrance and village tradition

The Heilige Gerardus Majellakerk was consecrated on 14 January 1914. Spijk’s war memorial commemorates four residents who lost their lives as a result of acts of war; the memorial consists of three natural-stone reliefs. The church and memorial represent different historical points of reference: the consecration of a church building and remembrance of the village’s residents.

Another trace of local cultural history leads to the Schuttersgilde Spijk. It was officially founded on 6 September 1898 in honour of Queen Wilhelmina’s inauguration. E.M.M. Spijk holds the village’s Schuttersfeest on the second Sunday in August each year. If you would like to include the festival in your stay, use its recurring date as a guide and check the specific event date before travelling.

Landscape and art along the way

From Het Uutblaoshuukske, you can see the Eltenberg, the surrounding orchards and a flower meadow. The vegetation changes with the seasons, so the meadow looks different depending on when you visit. The rest area combines a practical stop for walkers and cyclists with a view of the surrounding landscape.

At the end of the Spijksedijk, near boundary marker 660, the site-specific artwork Und so Weiter stands at a rest area. The monument marks the place where the Rhine first enters the Netherlands. Here, a specific point along the river’s course is also the site of an artwork. If seating or rest stops are important to your visit, check in advance whether the relevant facilities are currently available.

Discover more destinations: Lobith, Herwen, Tolkamer, Pannerden.

For the broader travel overview: Rijnwaarden.