Bentelo offers routes of varying lengths and themes: the approximately 1.5-kilometre Sprookjespad follows a story through the Hagmolenbos, while “Rondje om en door Bentelo” covers 7.3 kilometres. There is also the distinctive landscape along the Hagmolenbeek and buildings with a history of their own. Which stops you choose depends on whether you would rather take a stroll, go hiking or explore church architecture and local history.
Walking and Routes in Bentelo
The Sprookjespad is designed as a story-led walk. Along the way, you will find hidden figures and questions you can explore using your smartphone. The route is about 1.5 kilometres long and starts at the car park by the church in Bentelo. This makes it easy to compare its length with that of the 7.3-kilometre “Rondje om en door Bentelo”, without assuming walking times or difficulty levels.
“Rondje om en door Bentelo” starts in the centre, by Café/Restaurant Spoolder Proeven en Proosten, Onze Lieve Vrouwestraat 2. From there, follow the blue arrows of the walking route network. Another walking route runs along the Hagmolenbeek. The stream flows between Wijngaard Hof van Twente and a wooded area belonging to the Twickel estate. In autumn 2019, the hand-operated Beuzels voetveer began operating to allow the walking route to continue across the Hagmolenbeek. If your planned route depends on this crossing, check in advance whether the foot ferry will be available on the day of your visit.
In the Hagmolenbos, the Sprookjespad adds a storytelling element to the walk: the figures and smartphone questions give it a different character from a walking route focused primarily on distance. This lets you choose between a shorter, story-led walk and the longer route through and around Bentelo, depending on your interests. The distances given help you compare route lengths; on their own, they do not indicate how long the walk will take.
Landscape and Orientation
The Hagmolenbeek is a distinctive landscape feature immediately east of Bentelo. The surrounding area is characterised by tree-lined avenues and country roads, irregularly shaped plots, ash trees, woods and hedgerows. The Bentelerheide nature reserve, also known as Bentelerhaar, lies south of Bentelo. These location details help distinguish the landscapes described: the Hagmolenbeek is east of the village, while the Bentelerheide is to the south.
Church, Art and Local History
The O.L. Vrouwe van Altijddurende Bijstand church was opened for use on 19 August 1954. The three-aisled neo-Romanesque building was designed by architect Jan van Dongen (1896–1973). Its exterior walls contain 26 stained-glass windows designed by Jan Schoenaker. Their subjects combine biblical scenes with themes from Twente. The architecture and windows give the church building a distinctive cultural dimension.
The former grain mill “De Hagmolen” also tells the story of the village’s earlier uses. The building at Bentelosestraat 69 is a single-storey, crosswise structure with a mansard roof and loading ramp, dating from around 1900. It replaced a windmill built in 1860, which in turn had replaced the watermill of the now-vanished Havezate Hagmolen. This sequence runs from the former watermill, through the windmill, to the later grain mill building.
The Short Stirling monument in Bentelo commemorates the seven-member crew of a British RAF Short Stirling. The aircraft was shot down by the occupiers on 28 August. The memorial site adds a reminder of the crew and the historical event to the area’s architectural history.
Wine Growing and Seasonal Offerings
At Wijngaard Hof van Twente, you can book a tour that ends with a wine tasting. The vineyard’s first vines were planted in 2000. Today, it covers more than 5.5 hectares across three locations. Wine growing therefore provides another theme alongside the walking routes and architectural history; booking is part of the plan if you want to take the tour.
Other offerings have their own conditions: tours at Rik Visschedijk’s flower-growing business are available by appointment, so arrange your visit in advance. Fresh asparagus is available at Aspergeteler Slaghekke in Bentelo, weather permitting, from the end of April until St John’s Day on 24 June. Kinderspeelboerderij ’t Höfke offers play facilities indoors and outdoors. Each destination has something different to offer: a pre-arranged visit, a seasonal product subject to the weather, or indoor and outdoor play facilities.
Discover more destinations: Hengevelde, Ambt Delden, Diepenheim, Delden, Goor, Markelo.
View the main travel overview: Hof Van Twente.
