The best walks and hikes around Oude Ijsselstreek

Aaltserse Goor ? Aaltense Goor !

Engbergen is a beautiful recreation area. Here you can hike on well-maintained paths or stroll along narrow trails between fields and meadows. It's a wooded and heathland area with wetlands and artificially created biotopes. For example, Recreatie 't Lohr, located at Lohrpad 2 in Voorst, offers accommodation directly adjacent to the recreation area. It's designed for group outings for team building or for school groups.

In Voorst, the footpaths and cycle paths are well-maintained with gravel. They are very pleasant to cycle on and also suitable for walking, even in bad weather. Often, a row of trees lines one side, providing shade in the summer and shelter from the wind in the winter.

RESTAURANT VAN HAL The Van Hal Restaurant in Voorst (Achterhoek) was founded in 1905 as a café by Jannes van Hal next to the grain mill built in 1866. The brand became famous for its "half chickens," introduced in the early 1950s by Riek and Frans van Hal, of which more than 1 million have now been sold. A large bronze rooster sculpture stands as a symbol next to the entrance. 1905: Johannes (Jannes) van Hal obtained a license to sell spirits and opened a café on the grounds of the farm and mill. 1950s: Riek and Frans van Hal began serving their famous half chickens. 1958: This success led to official recognition as a restaurant. 1952: After the mill closed, and 1964: after the bakery closed, these premises were added to the restaurant. 2017: Owner Caspar van Hal (grandson of Riek and Frans van Hal), Grensweg 13 in Voorst, is still known today for its friendly Achterhoek atmosphere, and the famous half-chickens are still on the menu. Van Hal is a classic example of an Achterhoek restaurant that originated from a farm and a mill. (Source: "de lengendarische haantjes van van Hal": November 17, 2017) GRAIN MILL 1866/1899/2010: The associated grain mill was built in 1866 and operated by Jannes van Hal from 1899. After being damaged in the war, it was dismantled in 1957 but rebuilt and renovated in 2010.

From this wooden arched bridge onwards, the German Issel is called the Oude IJssel. A beautiful, gently flowing river. The pedestrian and cycle path runs almost entirely along its banks – very idyllic. On and along the water, you can observe grey herons, great egrets, mallards, coots, and the like. Swans, the heraldic animal of the Lords of Gendringen, also swim on the Oude IJssel. Next to the bridge, there is a launching and landing point for canoeists.

A beautiful route, also suitable for hiking. Since there is only one resident on this street, it's a pleasant place for cycling or walking. The street is a dead end for cars and leads into the Landfortseweg, which loops around Haus Landfort.

The Oriental dovecote was designed and built between 1825 and 1827 by Johann Theodor Übbung (1786-1864), the architect of the Prince of Anholt. The Oriental architectural style, with elements such as arched doorways, draperies with tassels, and a crescent moon, was popular at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries. According to the descriptions accompanying the design, the dovecote was intended to house, among other things, 164 pairs of doves, as well as chickens, capons, turkeys, swans, and ducks. They were kept for their meat, eggs, and droppings, which were used as fertilizer for plants. The dovecote was severely damaged at the end of World War II. Around the year 2000, it was restored to its original condition. (Source: Information panel on the grounds)

The name Landfort refers to a ford (a place fordable) in the Oude IJssel river. Landfort Manor was first mentioned in 1434. Since then, the size of the estate and the exterior of the buildings have changed regularly. When the Amsterdam ophthalmologist and botanist Johann Albert Luyken (1785-1867) acquired Landfort Manor in 1823, he had ambitious renovation plans. In 1825, he commissioned the renowned landscape architect Jan David Zocher Jr. (1791-1870) to design a landscaped park. The manor house itself was also redesigned, according to a plan by the Anholt court architect Johann Theodor Übbing (1786-1864), which included curved wings. J.T. Übbing also designed the oriental-style dovecote. Landfort Manor was severely damaged in 1945. In 1970, "Stichting Geldersch Landschap & Kasteelen" acquired the external site. In 2017, "Stichting Erfgoed Landfort" took over the island and the surrounding land on a long-term leasehold basis.