It is not for nothing that the Dinkel River is lyrically celebrated in the first verse of a Twente folk song. The partly sandy banks of the Dinkel River offer an immense wealth of flora and fauna, with the magnificently colored kingfisher, a well-known resident of the area, serving as a kind of mascot.
The Dinkel River has its source in North Rhine-Westphalia in the border region between Ahaus and Coesfeld. On the German side, it flows through Gescher,
Epe, Gronau, and, in the municipalities of Losser and Dinkelland, almost entirely through untouched Dutch territory. It re-enters Germany near Lage in the county of Bentheim, before flowing into the Vechte River near Neuenhaus. The Vechte River flows into the IJsselmeer.
A historical landmark is the ancient hydrodynamic lock "Schivenhuisje" on the Almelo-Nordhorn Canal in Denekamp. Here, the water level of the Almelo-Nordhorn Canal is regulated together with the water of the Nebendinkel. The Nebendinkel and the lower Dinkel then flow back together to form the Dinkel River. The Dinkel has a total length of approximately 96 kilometers, of which 46 kilometers flow through the Twente region.
For a longer stay, there are numerous options for a stopover. From overnight stays in luxurious hotels, cozy bed and breakfasts, and farm lodges to accommodations in the extraordinary Star Cube.
There's sure to be something for everyone here!