The best gravel rides around Rees

It is likely that Saint Martin or one of his successors had a church built in this area. The present late Gothic church building dates from the period 1300 to 1350. Oud-Zevenaar was once a place of pilgrimage. Many miracles are said to have occurred at the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, which was placed in the church in 1440 and stolen in 1975. A replica is now in the church. The stained-glass windows, depicting the Seven Sorrows of Mary, were created in 1931 by the stained-glass artist Joep Nicolas. Next to the main entrance is a stone indicating a height of 15.25 cm above sea level (NAP).

The footpath/cycle path runs along the Bocholter Aa river. Long stretches are shaded by trees and bushes.

VOORST GRAIN MILL In 1866, Willem Stapelbroek had a grain mill built near his farm, "Klein Immink." His son, Bernard, was the first miller. In 1899, Johannes Hermanus (Jannus) van Hal took over the mill and married Stapelbroek's heiress that same year. The mill was severely damaged in the war in 1945 and subsequently shut down. Milling continued in the adjacent barn using electrically powered millstones. After the now dilapidated mill was further damaged by a lightning strike in the 1950s, the cap and sails were removed for safety reasons. Following the establishment of the "Grain Mill Voorst" Foundation in 1999, the first steps toward restoring the mill were taken. On November 27, 2010, the restored mill was officially reopened by Trees van Hal-Knaven and Bertus van Hal, the great-grandson of Willem Stapelbroek. (Source: Information sign at the mill; www.korenmolenvoorst.nl) 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.

Rewarding path along the river

Mill Forest

The name Slangenburg has nothing to do with snakes, but with the Slingebeek stream that meanders through the landscape here. It was once called the "Slingeburcht," but over time, this was corrupted to Slangenburg. Thus, the estate bears the name of the stream that has been winding its way through here for centuries.

The name Slangenburg has nothing to do with snakes, but with the Slingebeek stream that meanders through the landscape here. It was once called the "Slingeburcht," but over time, this was corrupted to Slangenburg. Thus, the estate bears the name of the stream that has been winding its way through here for centuries.

The church's origins date back to the 10th century. It was built as a simple wooden structure at the beginning of the 10th century northeast of the then existing castle complex. In 967, the castle was converted into a free-noble women's convent. The Elten women's convent developed into an imperial foundation and thus also became a secular dominion, or rather, an independent small state with a secular bailiff. The wooden church was replaced by a three-aisled basilica. In 970, it was consecrated to St. Salvator and St. Vitus, but three years later, only the latter was listed as the patron saint. North of the church, convent buildings with a cloister were built. The chronology is based on pottery, which is discussed in detail by Janssen. Some burials northeast of the church date from as early as the 10th/11th centuries.