For a break in Nutter, there are several specific points of interest to explore: hiking trails of varying lengths, the rewetted landscape at Hazelbekke and traces of history. You can plan your stay according to whether you mainly want to get around on foot or focus on the natural and cultural landscapes.
Hazelbekke and the Cultural Landscape
Eight hectares of former farmland in the Hazelbekke area have been rewetted. The Hazelbekke stream’s catchment area is also linked to a protected area: it is part of the Dal van de Mosbeek – Springendal Natura 2000 site. Together, these details offer insight into the area’s landscape, while making clear that the natural area and the protected site are not the same thing.
The Nutter Esch offers a different perspective: it is an elevated arable field on a cover-sand rise. Here, an agricultural cultural landscape sits alongside the rewetted area at Hazelbekke. Anyone interested in how landscapes were formed and used will find different points of interest in these two features.
History in the Landscape
Along Helweg and Wittebergweg is a site listed as a Rijksmonument, containing two burial mounds dating from the Neolithic and/or the Bronze Age. It was added to the register on 8 June 1977. The protected area includes the burial mounds themselves and a ten-metre-wide strip measured from their base. The precise extent of the protected area is therefore part of the site’s historical significance.
The hilly landscape of Nutter also tells of earlier forms of community life. It is a so-called marke: farmers used to join together there and administer their own justice. The term therefore refers here to a historical form of community and legal organization. Together with the burial mounds, this history broadens the perspective beyond the walking route itself.
Hiking by Distance
There are several distances to choose from when selecting a hike. The Green Route at Hazelbekke in Nutter is a three-kilometre circular trail. Three routes starting at the Nutter trailhead at Wittebergweg 9 in Oud-Ootmarsum range from 5.3 to 8 kilometres. The Springendal hike covers just over ten kilometres, starting at Tourist Info Ootmarsum and passing through the hamlet of Nutter to the Springendal nature area.
The Green Route can also be distinguished by its course: it crosses the Roezebeek twice, and most of its surface is unpaved. These are practical features to consider alongside the distance when making your choice. The Springendal hike, in turn, is defined by its route through Nutter to the Springendal nature area. The options therefore differ not only in distance, but also in their expressly stated trail features and destinations.
If you are weighing up several options, it is best to start with your preferred distance: three kilometres for a circular walk, one of the three routes between 5.3 and 8 kilometres, or the Springendal hike of just over ten kilometres. You can then consider which of the routes and landscape features mentioned best suits your outing. The details make it possible to compare the options without combining the routes into a single hike.
Other Local Highlights
Hazelbekke is also a large, attractively situated farm complex with half-timbered barns. The same name thus appears in connection with both the landscape and hiking trail, and a historic complex. At the Eishof Bölte in Nutter, ice cream is made with pure, natural ingredients. If you want to include this offering in your plans, check in advance what is currently available.
The routes can be compared by distance and features; the burial mounds, Nutter Esch and the former marke offer further topics to explore during your time in the area. This lets you match your hotel search to the kind of stay you have in mind.
For an overview of the wider region: Overijssel.
