4.4
(5509)
24,554
hikers
1,129
hikes
Hiking around Slingeplas offers diverse landscapes within the Winterswijk National Landscape, characterized by a large recreational lake with sandy beaches. The region features small-scale agricultural fields, wooded banks, and forests with babbling brooks. This area, a former sand extraction pit, is integrated into a broader bocage landscape with varied ecosystems. Trails often connect the lake with the nearby historic fortified town of Bredevoort.
Last updated: May 13, 2026
4.6
(40)
267
hikers
3.23km
00:49
10m
10m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
4.7
(7)
51
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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4.6
(7)
35
hikers
6.41km
01:37
10m
10m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
4.5
(6)
28
hikers
6.39km
01:37
10m
10m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
4.4
(16)
52
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Very beautiful surroundings and good restaurant
2
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Very beautiful surroundings and good restaurant
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Continuation of the inscription on the pages... p. 6) Saint George was the patron saint of knights. He slew the dragon, the monster of all evil. The gilded image of Saint George of Bredevoort adorns the spire of the old "Sint Joriskerk" (old St. George's Church, Market Square). IMAGE: Knight George on his horse, slaying the dragon with a lance. p. 7) The Nazareth Monastery, also called Schaer (sharp), also blessed Bredevoort. The monastery, 2 km away, was a center of knowledge and culture. Nobles met there, disputes were settled, and it was also a popular burial place. The prior of the monastery was also the parish priest of Bredevoort. The church was founded in 1429 by Knight Derck van Lintelo and the patrician Conrad Slindewater. It later became part of the main monastery in Windesheim near Zwolle. IMAGE: Coat of arms with 3 birds, 2 crossbars, and 1 semicircle p. 8) During the uprising against Spain in the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648), the flatlands around Bredevoort suffered greatly. Soldiers and mercenaries, both allies and enemies, plundered. Farms were often abandoned or destroyed, and most of the land lay fallow. Sometimes the flag of the Spanish king flew over the castle, other times the orange-white-blue flag. p. 9) Prince Maurice was well-versed in new technologies. In October 1597, his soldiers crossed the canals in a spectacular fashion. Floating cork bridges were constructed as pontoons over the water on the southwest side of the town. Bredevoort had already set its cannons alight beforehand. The fortress reverted from Spanish to state ownership (House of Orange). p. 10) Different times, different measures. From 1755 onward, the ramparts, the crescent-shaped fortifications, the bastions with their evocative names Fearless, Mourn Not, Intrepid, Proud Castle, Consequential, and Ox Head, the defensive ditches, and the gates were no longer necessary. Nature and humankind had done their work. Bredevoort lost "zijn jas, maar niet zijn kracht" (its cloak/cover, but not its strength). You have already read the pages of this book in the "book town of Bredevoort," a friend of all printed works since 1993.
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This "history book" made of Corten steel is located at the northern end of the market square (behind Stadsbrouwerij de Borghman) at the corner of Het Zand and Kruittorenstraat. Five double-page spreads provide information about the origin and development of the town of Bredevoort. The following is written on it: S1) The only place where one could cross the surrounding marshes with dry feet was here: the Brede-Voorde (broad ford). A suitable location to build a castle. From here, one had good control over the roads, and the castle was difficult to conquer. The owners of the castle also ruled over the surrounding land. The oldest mention of "Castri Bredevurt" dates back to 1188. The Archbishop of Cologne (with three shares) and the Counts of Lohn were the lords of the castle. S2) The town grew up on the south side of the mighty castle. Behind the moats (the castle ditches surrounding the inner and outer castle walls), the feudal lords (Borgmänner) ruled over the Lordship of Bredevoort. This included the town and the villages of Aalten, Dinxperlo, and Winterswijk. IMAGE: Castle and town with inner and outer moats S3) It is unknown whether Brevoort, Breefoort, Breevorde, Bredervoert, Breedevoord, or Bredevoort possessed town privileges. However, they did have the right to mint coins, meaning they could produce their own coins and use them as currency. IMAGE: Coins of Bredevoort S4) The Dukes and Counts of Guelders coveted Bredevoort, as did the Bishops of Münster. Both held equal shares in the Lordship of Bredevoort. The noble feudal lords (Borgmänner) defended the castle and the town in armor and on horseback. PICTURE: Knight on a warhorse or tournament horse with sword, armor, helmet, and crest. (p. 5) Bredevoort was also a war gift. In 1388, Duke William of Guelders gifted the town of Bredevoort and the surrounding lands to Henry of Gemen in gratitude for his assistance during the campaigns in Guelders. Bredevoort was an attractive investment for nobles. This meant, however, a succession of different rulers, different laws, and sometimes higher taxes: The Gemen era lasted until 1492. The era under the Counts of Bentheim-Steinfurt lasted until 1526. The Lords of Guelders ruled again until 1562. Anholt held sway until 1612. Ultimately, the town belonged to the House of Orange.
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HISTORY OF THE VESTING PARK The Fortress Park is a listed historical park located on the former fortifications and bastions "Treurniet" (= do not mourn) and "Vreesniet" (= do not be afraid) in the northwest of the city. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the ramparts and almost all of the bastions were demolished, and most of the canals were filled in. (Source: Information panel at the park entrance) Bernard Andreas Roelvink was the administrator of Governor William V. His residence was expanded in 1764 into the administrator's house, the present-day St. Bernardus Church. The remains of two bastions (Treurniet and Vreesniet) and the land between them were granted to the Roelvink family on a hereditary lease in 1782. Around 1850, he had an English garden with a teahouse laid out for himself at "Vreesniet." The Roelvink family used to drink their tea there. (Source: Information panel at the teahouse) Following the arrival of the French in 1795, administrative changes took place. The Bredevoort estate was divided. St. Bernardus House was built on the grounds of the outer bailey of Bredevoort Castle. It was commissioned by Jan Satink, a lieutenant colonel in the National Regiment of the Dutch Army. (Source: Hotel de Heerlyckheid website) Around 1900, when tuberculosis (TB) became the number one public health problem, Father Bernardus Mulder purchased the steward's house (dating from 1764) and its garden in 1897 to establish a hospital. Under the direction of the Franciscan Sisters of Thuine, the "Roman Catholic Sanatorium St. Bernardus Foundation" was founded in 1902. The former English Garden was used as a health resort for TB patients. Several sunbathing pavilions (of which only two white carriage houses remain today) were erected along the city moat (Grote Gracht). Around 1900, an orchard was planted in the monastery garden, approximately at the level of the Treurniet Bastion, and in 1912 the nuns had the Lourdes Grotto built in the English Garden. (Source: Information panel in Vestingpark) From 1933, the former administrator's house and its park were used as a retirement home. In 1938, the Sisters of Thuine were replaced by the Sisters of St. Joseph from Amersfoort. In 1985, the Sisters of St. Joseph had to leave Bredevoort permanently. St. Bernardus House was renovated and expanded in 1988 by the St. Bernardus Nursing Home Foundation, which also used the building as a retirement home. In 2008, the nursing home moved to a new location.
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B.A. Roelvink had this beautiful teahouse built for himself and his family in 1862. It's charmingly furnished, just as a 19th-century teahouse would have been. One can easily imagine the Roelvink family arriving at any moment to enjoy their afternoon tea. It's locked, but the interior is clearly visible through the glass panes. Simply beautiful and an idyllic spot. ... BACKGROUND 1764: Bernard Andreas Roelvink was the administrator of Governor William V. His residence was expanded into the administrator's house in 1764 (the present-day Boutique Hotel & Brasserie "DE HEERLYCKHEID"). 1782: The remains of two bastions (Vreesniet and Treurniet) and the land between them (the present-day fortress park and orchard) were leased to the Roelvink family in 1782. Around 1850: B.A. Roelvink had an English garden laid out on the grounds for himself and his family, a style that was very fashionable at the time. 1862: The teahouse was built on the former Vreesniet bastion and is now picturesquely situated on a slight rise in the fortress park, which is bordered to the northwest by the Grote Gracht (former moat). (Source: Information signs at the teahouse and in the fortress park)
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You can enjoy delicious food at Grachthaus, Kruittorenstraat 1 in Bredevoort. From here you have a beautiful view of the Great Canal and Vestingpark. In summer, you can sit outside on the terrace and soak up the sun.
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B.A. Roelvink had this beautiful teahouse built for himself and his family in 1862. It's charmingly furnished, just as a 19th-century teahouse would have been. One can easily imagine the Roelvink family arriving at any moment to enjoy their afternoon tea. It's locked, but the interior is clearly visible through the glass panes. Simply beautiful and an idyllic spot. ... BACKGROUND 1764: Bernard Andreas Roelvink was the administrator of Governor William V. His residence was expanded into the administrator's house in 1764 (the present-day Boutique Hotel & Brasserie "DE HEERLYCKHEID"). 1782: The remains of two bastions (Vreesniet and Treurniet) and the land between them (the present-day fortress park and orchard) were leased to the Roelvink family in 1782. Around 1850: B.A. Roelvink had an English garden laid out on the grounds for himself and his family, a style that was very fashionable at the time. 1862: The teahouse was built on the former Vreesniet bastion and is now picturesquely situated on a slight rise in the fortress park, which is bordered to the northwest by the Grote Gracht (former moat). (Source: Information signs at the teahouse and in the fortress park)
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There are over 1000 hiking routes available around Slingeplas, offering a wide variety of options for all skill levels. These trails explore the recreational lake, the surrounding bocage landscape of the Winterswijk National Landscape, and connect to the historic town of Bredevoort.
Yes, Slingeplas offers several family-friendly hiking options. Many routes are easy and relatively short, perfect for walks with children. For example, the Slingeplas – Slingeplas loop from Bredevoort is an easy 2.0-mile (3.2 km) trail that circles the lake, providing scenic waterside views.
Many trails in the Slingeplas area and the broader Winterswijk National Landscape are dog-friendly, though it's always advisable to keep dogs on a leash, especially in nature reserves or near agricultural land. Be mindful of local regulations and wildlife.
Hiking around Slingeplas offers diverse landscapes. You'll find the large recreational lake with sandy beaches, small-scale agricultural fields, wooded banks, and forests with babbling brooks. The area is part of the Winterswijk National Landscape, known for its unique bocage environment and historic farms.
Yes, many of the hiking routes around Slingeplas are circular, allowing you to start and end at the same point. A popular example is the Slingeplas – Slingeplas loop from Bredevoort, which offers a pleasant walk around the lake.
The Slingeplas area is rich in cultural attractions. It's very close to Bredevoort, known as a 'Book Town' with charming streets and second-hand bookshops. Many routes, like the Bredevoort Book Town – Vestingspark Bredevoort loop from Bredevoort, connect the lake with the historic town and its picturesque Vestingpark, which features old trees, a teahouse, and a grotto.
The Slingeplas area is highly rated by the komoot community, with an average score of 4.4 stars from over 5000 reviews. Hikers often praise the varied terrain, the scenic waterside views, and the combination of natural beauty with the charm of nearby Bredevoort. Over 23,000 hikers have used komoot to explore the area.
Yes, Slingeplas has many easy trails perfect for beginners or those looking for a relaxed walk. Over 690 easy routes are available, including gentle loops around the lake and through the surrounding countryside. The Eskes Farm – Havezathe Het Walfort loop from Bredevoort is another easy option, leading through agricultural land and past historic farms.
Parking is generally available near the Slingeplas recreation area and in the nearby town of Bredevoort. Specific parking details can often be found on local signage or in route descriptions for individual trails.
Slingeplas is enjoyable for hiking throughout much of the year. Spring and autumn offer pleasant temperatures and beautiful scenery with blooming nature or colorful foliage. Summer is also popular, especially for combining hiking with swimming at the lake. Winter hiking is possible, but trails might be muddy or icy depending on conditions.
The varied ecosystems within the Winterswijk National Landscape, which includes Slingeplas, are home to diverse plant and animal species. While specific rare habitats might not be on every trail, hikers can often spot various birds, small mammals, and insects, especially in the wooded areas and near the babbling brooks.
Absolutely. Many hiking routes are designed to connect Slingeplas with the charming town of Bredevoort. For instance, the Slingeplas – Bredevoort Book Town loop from Bredevoort allows you to enjoy both the natural beauty of the lake and the cultural experience of the book town in one outing.


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