Centuries-old forests, wet heathlands and farmland lie side by side in the varied cultural landscape of Landgoed Twickel. This blend of nature and designed landscapes shapes the character of the estate. You can explore Twickel on foot or by bicycle at your own pace, or follow a guided route. This lets you combine views of the landscape with an interest in gardens and regional history.
Historic gardens and castles
On the edge of Diepenheim, Landgoed Warmelo encompasses a seven-hectare historic garden. Its areas include a French geometric garden, an English landscape garden and a pinetum. The historic garden of Kasteel Warmelo reflects four centuries of garden architecture: from medieval herb gardens through formal French geometry to the romantic English landscape park. Anyone interested in garden design can see different styles and periods side by side here.
Kasteel Weldam also combines garden history with the opportunity to explore the surrounding area on foot or by bicycle. The garden and the estate are open to the public, but the castle itself is not. There are three signposted routes marked with colored posts on the estate. The garden of Kasteel Weldam is also an example of the restoration of 17th-century Baroque gardens in the late 19th century.
Hof Van Twente is home to seven castles and historic manor houses: Kasteel Twickel near Delden, as well as Huis Nijenhuis, Kasteel Warmelo, Huis te Diepenheim, Huis Westerflier, Kasteel Weldam and Havezate Wegdam in and around Diepenheim. Some gardens are open to visitors. These sites represent different aspects of regional architectural and garden history; be sure to check whether each garden is accessible as you plan your visit.
Art, crafts and local history
The Drawing Centre Diepenheim is devoted to contemporary drawing. It hosts three exhibitions and an art festival each year, and also offers interactive tours and workshops. The centre’s gardens form an outdoor collection where various artists present their perspectives on gardens, nature and landscapes. Art lovers will therefore encounter not only drawings, but also artistic perspectives on both designed and natural surroundings.
In Goor, the Goors Historisch Museum tells the town’s story across two floors. It is housed in a railway station building dating from 1865. The Klompenmuseum Goor offers a different perspective on regional everyday life and craftsmanship: it displays around 700 wooden shoes, including intricately carved and painted examples. The museum has the largest collection of wooden shoes on display in the Netherlands and owns early wooden-shoe-making machines. Demonstrations of handcrafting complement the collection; their times may vary. The museum is near the Braakmolen and offers tours and video presentations in Dutch, French, German and English.
The Braakmolen itself is an octagonal gallery smock mill and stands more than 22 metres tall. During a visit, the millers demonstrate the working mill equipment, except for the motor; whether a demonstration can take place may depend on their availability. Den Haller in Diepenheim has an even older milling history: this water-powered grain mill was first mentioned in 1237.
The Museumboerderij Wendezoele also brings crafts and history to life. It is housed at the monumental Erve Brinkcate near Delden, close to Kasteel Twickel. Its offerings include demonstrations of traditional crafts, exhibitions, guided tours and storytelling. In the centre of Delden, the Zoutmuseum offers a different thematic focus: it tells the story of salt and its importance, from Twickel, Boekelo and Hengelo to its global connections.
Heathlands, trails and seasonal discoveries
De Borkeld is an archaeological reserve with settlement remains and burial mounds dating from 4,000 to 6,000 years ago. The nature area includes heathland and is accessible to walkers and cyclists. Informatieboerderij ’n Witten on Borkeldweg complements a visit to the natural area with a permanent exhibition, an identification garden and erratic boulders.
For cycling trips, you can plan your own routes in Hof Van Twente using Fietsnetwerk Twente, which covers a total of 2,500 kilometres. One ready-made option is the Zes kastelen Fietsroute Diepenheim. Wandelnetwerk Twente covers a total of 3,000 kilometres and is designed for exploring the surrounding area. The figures refer to different networks; when planning your trip, you can choose between a custom cycling route, a ready-made route and walking.
Some activities have set seasonal opening times. The Graftrommel exhibition in Goor is open from 2 to 4 pm on the first Sunday of every month from April through September; check the dates before you travel. Seasonally, an exhibition in the English section of the 18th-century park at Kasteel Warmelo features 28 remarkable sand sculptures. Here too, it is advisable to check the current exhibition dates. Streekmarkt Twente takes place in Delden on the first Saturday of every month; check the date before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Delden, Diepenheim, Markelo, Bentelo, Hengevelde, Ambt Delden, Goor, Twenterand.
For the regional travel overview: Overijssel.
