Diepenveen offers a range of possibilities for a stay: the Dorpskerk with its monastery history, the Laage Diepenveen land art project, as well as walking, cycling and water activities. To choose what to do, you can start by deciding on a focus: Would you like to learn about the history of the town, take a marked walk or plan activities on the water? Specific points of interest include a walking route starting in the town centre, the Zandwetering and the “Klooster Nieuw Sion” bus stop.

Monastery history at Kerkplein

The Dorpskerk Diepenveen stands on Kerkplein on the site of a former convent. The convent was founded in 1400 in the context of the Modern Devotion movement. In 1720, the church was restored and subsequently used as a Protestant church. This makes it possible to distinguish the earlier history of the convent from the church’s later history: the convent’s foundation and the church’s restoration belong to different periods. For travellers interested in religious history, Kerkplein is a specific point of interest.

Land art project with two labyrinths

Laage Diepenveen is a two-hectare land art project designed by Jeroen van Westen. The waterways and walking paths each form their own labyrinth; a well is located in the centre of the area. The project thus combines two different forms of design rather than focusing on a single path. If you are interested in land art, this dual labyrinth structure is a particularly distinctive feature: both the waterways and the paths form their own system within the area.

Walking, cycling and historic routes

The Laage Diepenveen walking route starts in the centre of Diepenveen at Kulturhus Diepenveen, Dorpsstraat 30a, and follows the green arrows of the walking network. It passes the site where the Diepenveen meteorite was found. The starting point, route markers and discovery site give the route specific points of reference; it is one option for anyone looking to combine a designated walk with a named stopping point.

In addition, several walking routes are signposted in Diepenveen’s various wooded areas, and several cycling routes pass through Diepenveen. The options differ by activity and type of route: for walking, marked routes in wooded areas are listed; for cycling, routes through Diepenveen. The Randerpad adds a historical connection to these routes: it was an old church path leading from Olst to the church in Diepenveen.

Water activities and practical information

Fishing is possible in the Zandwetering and in various pools and former river channels in and near the IJssel floodplains around Diepenveen. The Zandwetering has also been adapted for canoeing. Several types of water are mentioned for fishing; for canoeing, the Zandwetering is the specific point of reference. This allows you to choose between water activities according to your interests.

The Koffieschenkerij at Klooster Nieuw Sion is open Wednesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00. Check the opening hours before travelling. RRReis bus route 165 runs between Deventer and Raalte stations and stops at “Klooster Nieuw Sion”. From there, it is about a ten-minute walk along the access road to the monastery. If you plan to use this connection, check the timetable before travelling as well.

Discover more destinations: Schalkhaar, Deventer, Bathmen.

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