Estate and landscape
Blue-and-white shutters give the historic estate farmhouses on Landgoed Scherpenzeel a distinctive look and make them easy to recognise. The estate landscape also includes avenues, small enclosed plots, sheepfolds and hedgerows. Scherpenzeel is also characterised by a small-scale, enclosed strip-field landscape, with small farm plots, hedgerows and scattered groves. Scherpenzeel lies near a castle on a high sandy ridge between the marshy fens of the Gelderse Vallei. The landscape thus brings together both farming features and the history of the estate.
Paths through the area
The paths and trails of Landgoed Scherpenzeel are almost entirely open to the public. The signposted Oudenhorsterpad walking route crosses the estate. You can go for a walk and picnic in the park of Huis Scherpenzeel. If you are interested in the stories of the village and its green surroundings, the “Scherpenzeelse Verhalen” route offers a short 3.6-kilometre walk through and around Scherpenzeel. You can choose between different perspectives: paths across the estate, or a walk centred on stories about the village and its surroundings.
Monuments and local history
Huize Scherpenzeel is a castle first mentioned in the mid-14th century. The entire estate of Huis Scherpenzeel has been designated a national monument (Rijksmonument) since 2000. The surrounding countryside of Scherpenzeel is home to listed farmhouses and old trees, which are also on the monuments list. These landmarks give the landscape a tangible historical dimension.
The Grebbelinie also tells the story of the region. Built in the 18th century, this water defence line runs along the border between Gelderland and Utrecht. From 1939 to 1940, under the name Valleistelling, it formed part of the Netherlands’ main defence line. If you would like to learn more about local history, Oud Scherpenzeel preserves local stories, photographs and documents and shares them with residents and visitors. The association presents exhibitions, lectures and publications on local history and holds four open days each year.
At the Oud Scherpenzeel documentation centre, visitors can see a photo exhibition, historic photo albums and a genealogy room; more than a thousand old objects are also on display. The collection and events offer different ways to explore the past: through photographs, family research, exhibits or lectures.
Market and events
The weekly market takes place every Wednesday from 08:00 to 13:00 in the car park of Kulturhus De Breehoek on Marktstraat. Check the date before your trip. Once a year, on the last Wednesday in May, the market becomes a festive market with extra stalls, music and evening opening hours until 21:00. The programme may vary from one edition to the next.
The traditional market offers artisan bread, fresh cheese, homemade sausage and other regional specialities. Farmhouse cheese and fresh dairy products come directly from the farm; the selection may vary. Koningsdag also has a local tradition: in Scherpenzeel, it begins with an aubade in the park of Huis Scherpenzeel. The rest of the programme varies from one edition to the next.
More things to do
Activities for a range of interests also include the KidsCross Bikepark and the ’t Willaer swimming pool. The bike park was designed for children aged 4 to 12 and is free to access from sunrise to sunset. The swimming pool has a 42-metre slide, a paddling pool for toddlers and an adjoining playground.
For a trip on the water, there is a canoe landing and car park at TOP Scherpenzeel, Nieuwstraat 76. A canoe trip along the Grebbelinie can start there and passes Liniedijk and Post van Lambalgen. The northern section is two kilometres there and back.
Discover more destinations: Scherpenzeel, Maasdriel, Rheden, Neder-Betuwe, Geldermalsen, Druten, Westervoort, Nunspeet.
Back to the regional travel overview: Gelderland.
