Over the Lochemse Berg to the Belvédère
9.5 km · 2h 30m · Moderate
Region
Achterhoek
Small in scale, green, and wonderfully unhurried.
The Achterhoek is the Netherlands at its quietest. Old estates, winding brooks and oak lanes shape the scene, cut through by sandy paths and silent villages. Here life slows to the pace of the land.
Highlights
Lochemse Berg
Wooded push moraine between Lochem and Barchem, with a highest point of around 49 metres and an observation tower over the Berkel valley.
The Berkel
Meandering lowland river that rises in Billerbeck in Germany and flows into the IJssel at Zutphen.
Kasteel Ampsen
The oldest surviving castle in Lochem, with a core from the middle of the seventeenth century, kept in the same family for centuries.
Naoberschap
The Achterhoek's age-old, matter-of-fact neighbourly help, recognised as intangible cultural heritage.
Huis Verwolde
Neoclassical country house from 1776 near Laren, open to visitors since 1982 under the care of Geldersch Landschap & Kasteelen.
In the Achterhoek the landscape flows gently: coulisses of hedgerows and oak lanes, country estates and manor houses, and the Berkel meandering slowly through it all. Around Lochem, the Lochemse Berg lends it just a little relief. It is green, unspoilt and unhurried — a region that has stayed true to itself.
Walkers and cyclists follow the brooks and estate paths here, from woodland to farmstead, from castle garden to open field. The routes are quiet and spacious, with a new estate or village as a reward around every corner. Time seems to move just a little slower here.
The Achterhoek is generous and rooted. Regional produce, craft beers and a hearty kitchen belong to the region — honest, seasonal and made with care. At the table you taste the outdoor day just behind you.
Hotel Hof van Gelre in the Achterhoek, near Lochem, is your quiet home base: among the estates and the Berkel, with the outdoors within reach. Generous in feeling, personal in experience — and the Achterhoek begins the moment you walk outside.
Frequently asked questions
What is the coulisselandschap?
The coulisselandschap is the Achterhoek's characteristic small-scale landscape, where meadows and fields alternate with hedgerows, copses and lanes — like wings on a stage, each revealing a new vista.
Is the Lochemse Berg easy to walk?
Yes. With a highest point of around 49 metres it is a gentle climb over forest paths, suitable for a relaxed walk. At the top stands an observation tower with views over the Berkel valley.
Can you visit the castles around Lochem?
Huis Verwolde near Laren has been open to the public since 1982 under the care of Geldersch Landschap & Kasteelen. Kasteel Ampsen is a private estate; check the current opening arrangements and any walking paths across the grounds in advance.
Is the Achterhoek good for cycling?
Especially so. The flat coulisselandschap, the paths along the Berkel and the Twentekanaal and the lanes between the estates make it one of the finest cycling regions in the Netherlands.
