There are several distinct themes to explore on a trip to Zevenaar: Roman finds and sacred art, traces of earlier production, routes through parks and reed landscapes, and activities on the water. Cultural history and craftsmanship thus meet experiences in the landscape.
Roman Traces and Cultural History
At the Liemers Museum in Zevenaar, you can discover Roman finds, including remains of the temple complex at Herwen-Hemeling. The museum also displays objects from the everyday lives of the Romans and later inhabitants, and tells the story of the region, its crafts and its art. A Roman-themed guided tour explores temples and legends. This offers a journey from archaeological objects to a themed tour.
Landgoed Huis Sevenaer also brings together different aspects of history: it comprises 23 national heritage sites and a historic horticultural complex. You can visit the house as part of a guided excursion. At Buitengoed de Panoven, a tour of the former brickworks explains the process from clay to brick. Bricks were made there until 1982; visitors can finish by moulding their own brick.
Another way to experience Buitengoed de Panoven is a 60-minute horse-drawn carriage ride through the Liemers countryside, pulled by Fjord horses. It offers a distinct experience alongside the brickmaking tour: here, the focus is on travelling through the landscape, while the tour explores the production process from raw material to finished brick.
The Turmac Cultuurfabriek brings together the site’s former industrial use and its present-day cultural life: the former cigarette factory in Zevenaar is now a cultural meeting place. Several partners based there offer social, educational and cultural programmes.
The Sint-Martinuskerk in Oud-Zevenaar features valuable stained-glass windows by artist Joep Nicolas. The St. Martin’s/Church of Our Lady also has a Marian chapel. The regional Marian pilgrimage began in the 15th century and continued until around 1580. Sacred art and pilgrimage history thus offer two distinct ways to explore the history of the church and the region.
The heritage of Vesting Zevenaar includes the town fortifications, the moat and the four former town gates: Bleksepoort, Grietsepoort, Didamsepoort and Kerkpoort. The Buitenmolen adds a technical dimension: built between 1500 and 1599, the mill combines the tower mill and Dutch-style windmill types and functions as a grain mill. It is open to the public by appointment.
Art Routes and Landscape
The Kunst- en Parkenpad in Zevenaar passes more than 40 works of art and objects and runs through eight city parks. You can walk it in the Oost-Zuid and West-Noord sections; the route is 23.9 kilometres long in total. Art in the urban environment and parks together shape the character of this route.
The Rijnstrangenpad offers a different landscape experience. This Klompenpad trail runs between Pannerden and Zevenaar through the Rijnstrangen area, across rugged reed beds and dykes, over two chain ferries and past old defensive structures. Reeds, dykes and historic structures give the route several distinctive features.
Water Areas with Distinctive Profiles
The De Bijland water sports centre is a 300-hectare water sports area near Lobith and Tolkamer. You can go surfing, pedal boating, sailing, boating and swimming there. Facilities also include a sheltered marina bay and a speedboat course for speedboaters and water-skiers. The range of activities and facilities gives the area a distinctive water sports profile.
Rhederlaag is defined by more than 350 hectares of water and a direct connection to the IJssel. The beaches near Giesbeek and Lathum are suitable for swimming, sunbathing, playing and surfing. The area includes the separate marinas Het Eiland and WSV Giesbeek, as well as the Rhederlaag yacht yard. While De Bijland offers a broad range of water sports activities, Rhederlaag also highlights its beaches and named marina facilities.
Getting There and Planning Your Visit
You can reach Zevenaar from Arnhem by train in less than 15 minutes; journey times and frequency may change. Check the latest services before travelling. From the station, you can walk to the town centre via Stationsplein and Kerkstraat. Several bus routes stop in the centre and at the station; there are further stops on Molenstraat and Oude Doesburgseweg. It is also advisable to check the latest public transport information before travelling.
The Theeschenkerij in the Deelhoven vegetable garden offers a regular opportunity to visit: it welcomes visitors on the first Friday of every month from 1 to 3 pm. You can buy produce from the estate there and enjoy fresh herbal tea with something sweet.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Zevenaar, Giesbeek, Lathum, Babberich, Culemborg, Lingewaal, Wageningen, Arnhem.
For the broader travel overview: Gelderland.
