Zenderen combines monastery paths with open countryside and a rich architectural history. When planning your trip, the main question is which side of the village you would like to discover: its varied walking routes, gardens and woodland, or its cultural sites. If you are looking for a hotel in Zenderen, these themes can also help you plan your trip.
Walking routes of different lengths
TOP-Locatie Zenderen is on Hertmerweg. Several circular routes created by local residents start there. The Kloosterpad Zenderen has four route options of 3, 5, 8 and 11 kilometres, which can be walked on any day. You can use the distance you prefer as a starting point for your plans; check the kilometre details before setting off.
Zenderen is also on the European long-distance walking route E11, known here as the Marskramerpad. The village is an important junction in the Twente cycling and walking network. The Marskramerpad also runs through De Kloostergaarde. As route maintenance may result in changes, it is advisable to check the route before your trip.
The Kloosterpad and its stops
The Kloosterpad connects Zenderen’s three monasteries and passes through Landgoed Weleveld. There, it follows the Schouw paths along the Bornse Beek and the Oude Bornse Beek. The route therefore connects several monastery sites with a section alongside two named waterways. Stations of the Cross have been relocated to the boundary wall of the Carmelitessenklooster so they can form an integral part of the Kloosterpad.
Gardens, woodland and landscape
De Kloostergaarde is a public garden in Zenderen, and admission is free. More than 1,500 plants, shrubs and trees have been planted there. Visitor arrangements may change. At Landgoed De Zwanenhof, you can explore the publicly accessible gardens and woodland on foot; visitor arrangements may change here, too.
The surrounding area includes the open esch landscape of the Zenderense Es. Historically, Zenderen was an important bottleneck for waterborne trade because of the Bornse Beek and the Azelerbeek. These waterways are therefore part of both the area’s landscape history and— in the case of the Bornse Beek—one section of the Kloosterpad. These connections belong to different periods: the bottleneck relates to earlier trade, while the paths along the streams are part of the current route description.
Historic farms and religious history
The Erve Bekman farm complex is at Albergerweg 19. It includes a 17th-century hall-house farmhouse with an adjoining barn, as well as a crosswise front house dating from 1880. The site’s historic urban-planning significance is distinct from these buildings and dates back to the 13th century. The dates therefore refer both to buildings from later centuries and to the site’s much older significance.
Zenderen’s religious history also includes the Redemptorists’ St. Josef retreat house, which opened in 1927. Catholics from Twente went there for spiritual education and inner formation. Regular guided tours for visitors are held at the Karmelietenklooster. Contact the prior well in advance; arrangements may change.
The Carmelitessenklooster has been permanently closed since 2020 and can no longer be visited. Check this visitor information again before making plans to visit. When choosing Zenderen as your destination, you can tailor your plans to the themes that suit you: the Kloosterpad’s four route lengths, the garden and woodland paths, or the history of Erve Bekman and St. Josef.
Discover more destinations: Hertme, Borne.
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