The historic route through Soest takes you to eight sights and is four kilometres long. You can complete it as an audio tour on foot or by bike. Its clearly stated distance and two possible ways of getting around make it a distinct way to explore the city’s history.
Historic traces in the Kerkebuurt and museums
In the Middle Ages, the Kerkebuurt was the village centre of the old farming village of Soest. Several old buildings have been well preserved there; they were fully restored in the 1960s and 1970s. The Oude Kerk is at the heart of the Kerkebuurt and dates from around 1350. Here, the medieval origins of the village centre meet the later restoration of the surviving buildings.
The bells of the Oude Kerk also tell stories of different eras: two bells hang in the church, and the largest dates from 1506 and is one of the oldest bells in the Netherlands. Alongside the age of the church building, visitors interested in history will find another specific historical detail here.
Museum Soest is housed in a listed monastery dating from 1868. At Museumboerderij Het Gagelgat, by contrast, the focus is on agricultural history: an interactive tour explores three centuries of farming history through the story of rural life in Soest in the past. The two places therefore offer different cultural perspectives: a historic monastery building on the one hand, and rural life and agriculture on the other.
Dunes, trails and a landscaped estate
The Soesterduinen are an extensive area of shifting sand near Soest. They consist of the Langen Duinen and the Korten Duinen and are surrounded by deciduous and coniferous woodland. The area is popular for walking and cycling and is also a pleasant place to spend time in nature. Various walking and cycling routes run through the Soesterduinen.
One specifically named walking route is the De Lange Duinen route. It starts at TOP Lange Duinen, a car park on Foekelaan in Soest-Zuid, and follows the waymarking points of the walking trail network. This route therefore has both a specific starting point and a described way of navigating, setting it apart from the wider range of routes in the area.
The De Paltz estate was designed in 1876 by landscape architects Copijn and Springer and covers around 80 hectares. The grounds include beech avenues, vistas and bodies of water, as well as an impressive villa, a coach house and a shepherd’s cottage. The description thus combines landscape design with several distinct buildings, while the area given remains approximate.
Guided tours, events and refreshments
At De Paardenkamp, visitors can take a guided tour with explanations from staff, pet and feed the horses, and take part in a treasure hunt for children. The activities differ in nature: the tour provides information, petting and feeding offer direct contact with the horses, and the treasure hunt is specifically for children.
The Kapschuur at the Herman van Veen Arts Center hosts concerts, festivities, exhibitions, seminars and lectures in the shade of old trees. Events are held on a small scale and in keeping with the woodland setting. The programme therefore ranges from cultural events to seminars and lectures.
At “Aanschuiven bij de Boer” at Het Gagelgat, coffee or tea with freshly baked cake, homemade seasonal soup, and bread with ham or cheese are served on the last Thursday of each month, except during school holidays, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The offer costs €12.50. As dates and details may change, check the latest information before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Soesterberg, Soestduinen.
Return to the main travel overview: Soest.
