Through the floodplains of Niftrik

You start at Hoogeerd, right on the Maas in Niftrik. Just outside the village you climb onto the dike and the floodplains open up before you: broad grasslands that give the water room to spread when the river rises.

Through the grass

A narrow path leads you off the dike and into the green. You walk past rough meadows and scrub, shot through with flowering herbs in summer. Between the willows you keep catching glimpses of the Maas, slow and wide.

The ferry to Ravenstein

On the far bank lies the old fortified town of Ravenstein. If you want to go further, the foot ferry takes you across the Maas; if you walk the loop, you stay on the Niftrik side and turn back to the dike at the drainage point.

Good to know

• The floodplain paths can be muddy after rain or high water; waterproof shoes are welcome.
• Cattle or horses sometimes graze in the floodplains; keep your dog on the lead.
• At high water some sections may be flooded and the dike is the alternative.

Back at Hoogeerd you can linger on the terrace or at the bar overlooking the river. The hotel sits so close to the Maas that you start the walk literally from the front door.