In Winterswijk Henxel, specific memorial sites sit within a landscape of deciduous forest, streams, an estate and a vineyard. The Hendrik-Bruntink Memorial commemorates a Dutch soldier; the “Vrijheidsboom Huppel en Henxel” (Freedom Tree of Huppel and Henxel) represents the connection between two hamlets. Döttinkrade and the Gossink Estate offer different kinds of scenery, while Wijngaard Hesselink brings together winegrowing and wine tasting. When planning your trip, you can focus on local history, nature or a visit to the vineyard, and search for holiday accommodation accordingly.
Memorial Sites and Local History
The Hendrik-Bruntink Memorial is a natural-stone relief set into a brick wall. It is located in the wall in front of the playground next to the Emmaschool on Vredenseweg in the hamlet of Henxel. It commemorates a Dutch soldier who fell fighting the occupiers in the outpost line at Grebbeberg during the May days of 1940. This memorial site thus connects a specific person with a clearly identified event in wartime history.
Another cultural site is the “De Lappenschaar” complex at Vredenseweg 119–121 in Winterswijk Henxel. By municipal resolution of 10 December 2024, it was designated a municipal monument. This means that alongside personal remembrance, a named building complex has also been given its own heritage designation.
The “Vrijheidsboom Huppel en Henxel” stands where the Ratumse beek forms the precise boundary between Huppel and Henxel. The word “Noaberschap” was chosen to express the close connection between the two hamlets. While the Hendrik-Bruntink Memorial commemorates a person and their death, the Freedom Tree highlights the relationship between Huppel and Henxel.
Landscape of Streams, Forest and Estate
The Döttinkrade nature reserve is in Henxel and is also locally known as “Döttenkrö”. It is characterised by deciduous forests and the meandering Ratumse beek. Describing the stream as meandering draws attention to its winding course; together with the forest, these are two defining landscape features.
The Gossink Estate offers a different kind of scenery. This park-like estate in Henxel lies around the Gossink and Nieuw Gossink farmsteads. Its features include arable land, pasture, old beech avenues and ponds. While Döttinkrade is characterised by deciduous forest and the winding stream, Gossink brings together agricultural land, avenues and ponds in a park-like setting.
The terrain also contributes to Henxel’s landscape: elongated cover-sand ridges shape the surroundings and rise up to three metres above the surrounding terrain. This feature describes the landscape of the area beyond its individual named natural sites. So, alongside forest, stream and estate, the gentle ridges are also a regional feature.
Walking and Winegrowing
The Döttinkrade Route is one of the walks offered by the Achterhoek walking route network, starting from the point at Camping ’t Wieskamp, Kobstederweg 13. The route is marked with signs bearing red footprints. This identifies both a specific starting point in Henxel and the route’s marker.
For a different kind of outing, visit Wijngaard Hesselink, a 3.5-hectare vineyard in Winterswijk-Henxel. Guests can sit on the terrace overlooking the vineyard and taste the estate’s wines. If you are planning a wine tasting or a visit to the terrace, check what is on offer before you travel.
Discover more destinations: Winterswijk, Winterswijk Woold, Winterswijk Kotten, Winterswijk Brinkheurne, Winterswijk Miste
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