A search for lost coins leads to six different places in Oldenzaal: the Hanzetour app turns Hanseatic history into a city adventure. It is a fitting experience in a place where historical traces can be found not only in exhibitions, but also on walks and hiking trails. From the centre, it is easy to turn your attention to another side of the region: forests, stream valleys and the landscape around the Oldenzaal push moraine.
Discover city history in several places
At the Hanzehuis, you can learn about the city’s Hanseatic history and contemporary entrepreneurship. At De Pelgrim, the permanent exhibition “Ritme van de stad” explores typical rituals and traditions from Oldenzaal and Twente. Also there, the ArcheoHotSpot Oldenzaal brings together archaeology, archaeologists, volunteers, residents and visitors. Past and current excavations are made accessible to the public.
The Museum Oldenzaal complements these insights with archaeological finds, religious heritage and traditional crafts from its collection. The visitor programme includes tailor-made guided tours, a special city walk and an escape room; the programme may change. At the historic Palthe family home, you can get a sense of how a wealthy family must have lived in the 18th century. Together, these stops lead from city history to everyday life and material culture.
The Basilica of St Plechelmus is also a striking part of the city’s history: its tower is almost 800 years old, 61.5 metres high and built of Bentheim sandstone. From the top, known as the “Lood’n Bönneke”, the view stretches across Twente to Germany. Access arrangements may vary; check them before your visit. The publicly accessible Herdenkingstuin offers a quieter place. The memorial garden remembers residents who lost their lives in wartime hostilities or post-war peace missions. It also commemorates the victims of the explosion on the Groote Markt on 8 May 1945 and includes memorials to Jewish victims and Sinti from Oldenzaal.
Walking trails between the city and the countryside
Rondje Oldenzaal, also known as “Loakgang”, brings together a variety of natural and historical impressions. The 35.8-kilometre walking route has 62 junctions, passes through eight nature areas in Twente and runs by historic boundary stones. It starts at Hulsbeek, Oude Almelosestraat 13 in Oldenzaal, and is marked with white and green signposts. Along the way, you will also find remnants of the former tramway, which ran from Oldenzaal station via Rossum and Volthe to the station in Denekamp.
Another tour starts at the railway station: Route OHP 1 is marked in red and white and can be walked in either direction. It passes through country estates to Kennispark in Enschede and is part of the Overijssels Havezatenpad. Check the markings and access information before setting out; route conditions may also vary seasonally. This offers a longer connection through the region, while Rondje Oldenzaal brings together nature areas and traces of former routes around the city.
Het Hulsbeek and the surrounding area
Het Hulsbeek is a 230-hectare recreational area and is considered the region’s largest landscape park. The “'t 12-uurtje” walk passes through forests, by small bodies of water, across heathland and open meadows, and along stretches of water with beaches and green sunbathing lawns. The “'t 12-uurtje” programme also includes a walk from Oldenzaal to De Lutte and back, with lunch at two different locations along the way. Route and restaurant details may change. A treetop adventure course, a water playground, a panna football pitch and a skate park are among the other facilities. Check their current status before travelling.
Landgoed Egheria lies just outside Oldenzaal. There are walking and cycling routes through forests and along streams to the Tankenberg. Protected ponds in the stream valleys provide a habitat for the rare great crested newt. The Tankenberg is in the wider area around Oldenzaal: at 85 metres, it is the highest “mountain” in Overijssel, and from there the view stretches across Twente to Germany. On this side of the city, you can choose between walks through wooded valleys and a far-reaching view for two different landscape experiences.
City walks and seasonal experiences
Those wishing to explore Oldenzaal on foot will find options in the historic centre as well as longer routes. The “Bourgondisch Ommetje” takes you around the old town at your own pace, combining regional products with surprising stops and information about the oldest city in Twente. It is a package; availability and details may change. For puzzle fans, there is “Het geheim van Hades”: on this 15-kilometre cycling treasure hunt, you use GPS, the internet and evidence to solve a dark mystery while exploring the forests and villages around Oldenzaal. Check current availability before planning your trip.
Theatre can also be part of a walk. On the candlelit theatre walk, a lantern guide leads the group through Oldenzaal, where historical figures from the 18th century appear. Dates are listed for November and December 2026; check the latest dates before planning your visit.
Discover more destinations: Oldenzaal, Deventer, Hellendoorn, Staphorst, Losser, Ommen, Hof Van Twente, Zwartewaterland.
Back to the main travel overview: Overijssel.
