Explore the idyllic Dutch province of Overijssel – Havezatenpad
Hiking Collection by Marieke Duchatteau
17
days
2-5 h
/ day
287 km
770 m
810 m
The beautiful Dutch province of Overijssel is home to the Havezatenpad trail. This wonderfully varied 287-kilometre (179 mi) route links the cities of Oldenzaal and Steenwijk, passing numerous impressive manor houses along the way.
Havezaten are fortified castles or farms. They’re often imposing stately homes surrounded by beautiful gardens and sometimes moats. In the 17th century, it was compulsory to own a havezate if you wanted to join a knight's estate. Several of these historic castles are located along the route, so history and culture buffs will get their money's worth.
Aside from the impressive country houses, you’ll encounter many more highlights en route. You’ll walk through small-scale coulisse landscapes and dense forests, over country estates and along meandering rivers that reflect the surroundings beautifully. Two stages also pass through Weerribben-Wieden National Park and Giethoorn, dubbed the ‘Venice of the Netherlands’.
In this Collection, I’ve divided the route into 17 stages. If you walk the route in one go, then pack your rucksack and walk from accommodation to accommodation. If you don't have 17 days, the stages usually start and end near public transport. Keep in mind that certain parts of the trails are closed during the breeding season (15th March to 15th July). Be sure to book your accommodation ahead.
Make sure you have good quality hiking shoes and take enough food and drink to sustain you on each stage.
Now it's time to hit the road on the Havezatenpad.
On The Map
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Last updated: November 24, 2024
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Activities
03:51
14.9km
3.9km/h
90m
80m
IntermediateIntermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Good morning! It's time for your first meters on the Havezatenpad during this first stage. The tour starts in the Burgundian Oldenzaal, which is also called 'The Smile of Twente'. That is promising! After 15 kilometers you arrive in the village of Lonneker.
What do you encounter along the way? Via the…
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•04:19
16.9km
3.9km/h
50m
70m
IntermediateIntermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.Did you sleep well? It's time to get up and start the second stage of the Havezatenpad! Today's route is 17 kilometers long and leads from the village of Lonneker to Boekelo, which was once known as the salt city of the Netherlands.
What do you encounter along the way? The start of the walk goes through…
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03:36
14.1km
3.9km/h
40m
40m
IntermediateIntermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.Waking! The third stage of the Havezatenpad awaits you. Have a delicious breakfast, pack your backpack and set out for 14 kilometers from Boekelo to cozy and historic Delden.
What do you encounter along the way? You stroll in peace among the meadows and fields and cross the idyllic Hagmolenbeek, which…
translated by•05:25
21.2km
3.9km/h
70m
80m
ExpertExpert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.There it goes again! Today you will travel no less than 21 kilometers on the Havezatenpad. Put on your shoes and take the varied tour between atmospheric Delden and village Hengevelde.
What do you encounter along the way? Just outside Delden you will pass a very famous manor, Twickel Castle. Of course…
translated by•05:15
20.5km
3.9km/h
80m
80m
ExpertExpert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.Good morning! Are you ready for the fifth stage of the Havezatenpad? If there is a stage where the path lives up to its name, it is this one. There are many impressive manor houses waiting for you along the path between Hengevelde and Markelo for 20.5 kilometers. So get on your way quickly!
What do you…
translated by•03:39
14.3km
3.9km/h
50m
50m
IntermediateIntermediate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.Get ready for the sixth stage of the Havezatenpad! Today it takes you over 14 kilometers from Markelo to Rijssen.
What do you encounter along the way? Especially a lot of beautiful nature! Here you walk at the foot of the Sallandse Heuvelrug, an area characterized by heathland and forests. You stroll…
translated by•04:34
18.0km
3.9km/h
40m
50m
IntermediateIntermediate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.Welcome to stage 7 of the Havezatenpad! It promises to be another beautiful walk. During 18 kilometers between RIjssen and Nijverdal you will be surprised with the most beautiful highlights.
What do you encounter along the way? The route starts very nicely at the Pelmolen. The 18th century mill located…
translated by•04:56
19.5km
3.9km/h
50m
50m
IntermediateIntermediate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.Put on your walking shoes and tie your laces, because you are going for almost 19.5 kilometers on the Havezatenpad. This eighth stage takes you from the Sallandse Nijverdal to the outskirts of Den Ham.
What do you encounter along the way? The scenic landscape of the Regge and the meandering water of this…
translated by•02:11
8.54km
3.9km/h
30m
30m
IntermediateIntermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.Welcome to stage 9 of the Havezatenpad! You are now approximately halfway through the long-distance route and it promises to be another beautiful stage. You walk from Den Ham to Ommen in 8.5 kilometers.
What do you encounter along the way? The water is never far away today. Right at the start of the route…
translated by•05:10
20.3km
3.9km/h
60m
60m
ExpertExpert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.Get up, have a delicious breakfast and set off for 20 kilometers during this tenth stage of the Havezatenpad! The stage takes you from the historic Hanseatic city of Ommen through the Vechtdal to the village of Dalfsen.
What do you encounter along the way? The walk starts in the wooded area of the Laer…
translated by•04:11
16.5km
3.9km/h
50m
50m
IntermediateIntermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.Hopefully you slept a bit, because you will soon start your eleventh stage on the Havezatenpad! The 16.5 kilometer route takes you from Dalfsen to the lively historic city of Zwolle.
What do you encounter along the way? Of course you will pass various manor houses, one of which is very special, namely…
translated by•03:28
13.7km
4.0km/h
30m
30m
Ferry
IntermediateIntermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The route includes a crossing by ferry.Good morning! Are you ready again? I hope so, because the twelfth stage of the Havezatenpad has many surprises in store for you. During more than 13.5 kilometers, various highlights will appear on your path between the Hanseatic cities of Zwolle and Hasselt.
What do you encounter along the way? In any…
translated by•05:24
21.4km
4.0km/h
40m
40m
Ferry
ExpertExpert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required. The route includes a crossing by ferry.Get ready for stage 13 of the Havezatenpad! Today the route covers more than 21 kilometers from the Hanseatic city of Hasselt to Vollenhove.
What do you encounter today? As soon as you leave Hasselt behind you, you enter the polder, where a vast environment is interrupted here and there by a mound farm…
translated by•03:55
15.5km
4.0km/h
20m
30m
IntermediateIntermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.You have already come a long way on the beautiful Havezatenpad and after today you can add another 15.5 kilometers to that. Stage 14 leads you from the characteristic Vollenhove to Belt-Schutsloot, a village located in the Wieden nature reserve.
What do you encounter along the way? Central to this walk…
translated by•03:08
12.5km
4.0km/h
10m
10m
IntermediateIntermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.Water lovers pay attention, because this could well be the most beautiful stage of the Havezatenpad. The 12.5 kilometer long route takes you from the idyllic Belt-Schutsloot to the Venice of the Netherlands: Giethoorn.
What do you encounter along the way? The start of the walk goes through the Blauwehand…
translated by•05:46
22.9km
4.0km/h
40m
30m
ExpertExpert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.Good morning! And welcome to yet another penultimate stage of the Havezatenpad. Today is one of the longest stages on the program. You can enjoy all the beauty that the area between Giethoorn and Oldemarkt has to offer for 23 kilometers.
What do you encounter along the way? You walk largely through the…
translated by•04:17
16.8km
3.9km/h
50m
50m
IntermediateIntermediate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.The day you had to wait 2.5 weeks for has arrived: the last stage of the Havezatenpad awaits you! It promises to be a special day as you complete the last 16.5 kilometers of this beautiful long-distance trail. The last stage starts at Oldemarkt and ends in the city of Steenwijk, where you will celebrate…
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Marieke DuchatteauLike this Collection?
Collection Stats
- Activities17
- Distance287 km
- Duration73:06 h
- Elevation770 m810 m
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