Winterswijk offers a range of ways to enjoy a stay: a cultural landscape, signposted trails, museums, and visitor attractions around the market and brewery. The first question when planning is what you would like to focus on – hiking and cycling, regional transport and textile history, or art. The specific differences can help you tailor your trip to your interests.

Cultural landscape and geological history

The Nationaal Landschap Winterswijk covers 22,000 hectares and is a varied cultural landscape. Hedgerows, streams, arable fields, mills, forests and farmland shape the area. The historic farming practices of the Scholten farms, which involved owners, tenants and workers, have helped shape this landscape.

A geological landmark lies in Ratum, which is part of the municipality of Winterswijk: the Steengroeve, a quarry containing Muschelkalk limestone that is more than 240 million years old. Notable fossils have been found in the quarry. This highlights two distinct timescales: the historic cultivation of the landscape and the geological age of the Muschelkalk limestone.

Hiking and cycling

There are many signposted hiking routes in and around Winterswijk; the extensive network of trails lets you plan your own route. Cycling routes in and around Winterswijk are also signposted and pass scenic spots and points of interest. Many routes use the Achterhoek cycling node network, allowing cyclists to follow numbered junctions.

One mountain bike route in Winterswijk is 38 kilometres long and includes more than 12 kilometres of challenging singletrack, as well as a wall ride. Many cycling routes use the node network for navigation; this mountain bike route also has specific details on its length and technical features. This lets you compare route information based on the type of navigation or route details that matter to your plans.

Museums with different focuses

Museum Transit Oost explores the history of the textile industry, coal transport and former public transport in the eastern Netherlands, particularly in the Achterhoek and Winterswijk. A 15-metre-long and 4-metre-wide model railway depicts Winterswijk station and its tracks as they were around 1928.

Museum Villa Mondriaan displays works by the young Mondriaan alongside works by established and contemporary artists. The difference between the cultural offerings is clear: Transit Oost focuses on transport and industrial history, while Villa Mondriaan focuses on art and brings together different generations of artists.

Market and brewery

The market takes place around the Jacobskerk on the central market square. It has more than 50 different stalls; the number may change.

Bierbrouwerij Wentersch produces craft speciality beers. Visitor facilities include a shop, a tasting room and brewery tours. As the offer may change, check what is currently available before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Winterswijk Brinkheurne, Winterswijk Henxel, Winterswijk Kotten, Winterswijk Woold, Winterswijk Miste

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