Bathmen’s esch fields have a history of use dating back to the 8th century AD: they were created through the use of plaggen stalls. The watercourse now known as the Schipbeek also tells the story of how the landscape was used. In the 14th century, it was made navigable so agricultural produce could be transported more easily to Deventer. This brings different historical themes together: cultivation of the land and the transport of goods by water.
Hiking and Route Planning
The hiking trails in Bathmen are signposted as part of the Salland hiking network. One specifically named route is the Ommetje Schipbeekroute, which is 7.5 kilometres long. This gives you a concrete reference point for planning your route; however, a route’s length and availability may change. Check the latest directions before setting out.
The TOP Bathmen is located at the corner of Brink, de Veldkamplaan and Gorsselseweg. It offers starting points for cycling routes in the Salland cycling network and for several hiking routes. This means you can choose between cycling and hiking routes at the same information point. If you want to plan a specific route, you can use the Salland network’s signposting and the latest route information as separate planning aids.
Village Church and Culture
The monumental village church in Bathmen has a construction history dating back to around 1250. The choir and tower probably date from the 15th century in their current form. These two dates point to the church’s long history without equating its present-day appearance with its earliest phase of construction. The carillon plays automatically every quarter of an hour between 10:00 and 19:00. If the playing times matter for your visit, check the schedule in advance.
The multifunctional Cultuurhuus Bathmen still bears the name BRAAKHEKKE on its façade. Its large hall, the Heeren van Dorthzaal, serves as a fully equipped theatre with professional lighting and sound equipment. The Cinebat film house screens films monthly at Cultuurhuus Braakhekke. The offerings therefore also differ in frequency: the carillon has a daily playing window, while Cinebat screens films monthly. Screening dates and titles may change; check the current schedule if a film is important to your plans.
Mills and Places of Remembrance
The Dorthermolen is a surviving remnant of a stone, octagonal grain and groats mill with an attached stone warehouse. It is connected with the history of grain milling in the Netherlands and with local history. The focus is different at the De Leeuw grain mill in Bathmen: its origins date back to 1824, and it still grinds grain. The two mills therefore differ in that one is a surviving architectural remnant, while the other continues the practice of milling.
In Bathmen, the war memorial commemorates 18 residents who lost their lives as a result of acts of war during the Second World War. In addition, 14 Struikelstenen embedded in the pavement commemorate 14 victims of the Second World War. These two forms of remembrance are represented by separate memorial markers and figures.
Visiting Hours and Guided Tours
De Pothaar offers guided tours where you can meet the Lakenvelder herd. Tours can be booked for groups of ten or more and cost 7.50 euros per person. As booking conditions and prices may change, check them in advance. The Boerderijmuseum and De Pothaar’s terrace are listed as open on Wednesdays from 11:00 to 16:00 between 1 May and 30 September. Before visiting, check whether these hours apply to your planned date.
When planning your stay, you can distinguish specific times from the more flexible route options: for hikes, signposting and the latest route information are important; for the carillon, film screenings, guided tours or museum, check the relevant times and conditions. This will help you decide which of these landscape, culture and mill themes you would like to focus on during your visit.
Discover more destinations: Diepenveen, Deventer, Schalkhaar
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