Cottages Overijssel

The province of Overijssel is located in the east of the Netherlands and borders to a large extent on neighbouring Germany. The province is a large sandy territory, where mainly rivers, polders, arable land and winding streams determine the landscape. The border between Gelderland and Overijssel is largely formed naturally by the river IJssel. The nature in this province is extremely diverse and therefore our holiday homes in Overijssel are certainly suitable for a short or long holiday in their own country. The landscape of the province is very diverse; you will find small-scale scenic landscapes and forest areas, but also river landscapes, estates and polders. A versatile landscape! Every few kilometres you will come across new landscapes and other nature while walking, canoeing, cycling or driving a car, which means that you will not get bored easily here.

Overijssel has several nature reserves. Around the various visitor centres in these nature reserves, many mapped out routes start, both for riders and cyclists, fanatical hikers or canoe lovers. The forester will be happy to accompany you, so that he can inform you about the natural phenomena, the flora and the fauna that you will encounter along the way. National Park De Sallandse Heuvelrug and National Park Weerribben-Wieden are by far the most famous nature reserves in the province. On the Salland Ridge you can wander over rolling heathlands and through vast forests. In addition to the many insects, this area is also home to the last group of grouse in the Netherlands at the moment. Special!

Diverse landscapes in Overijssel

A large part of Overijssel is a diverse icy delta with sandy soils and low hills which were originally covered with heather and wet marshy meadows. Throughout the province there are 56 nature parks for you to visit. This province has no less than 8 different types of landscape. One moment you are standing in a swamp area, not much later you are surrounded by fields or moors. Because of the differences in nature, each of the parks is unique in its own way. The marsh landscape of the Weerribben is unique in the Netherlands. Near the German border lies the hilly Twente. Forests and heaths can be found on the Sallandse Heuvelrug. Enjoy special nature in the National Landscape IJsseldelta with its winding dykes and the oldest polder in the Netherlands: Mastenbroek.

One of the largest national parks in Zwolle, Engelse Werk is a pleasure to see and is a great place to walk and enjoy the fresh air. Built in 1828, this park is in the style of an English landscape park and was designed by Hendrik van Lunteren. Much of this park is covered with beautiful woodland, but there are also several small lakes and waterways to explore. Stroll along the main trails, enjoy nature and wildlife and explore the old remains of fortifications that can still be seen.

Never a boring day in Overijssel

Overijssel is characterised by the presence of several Hanseatic cities: Zwolle, Kampen, Ommen, Oldenzaal, Deventer and Hasselt. All six of them were members of the so-called Hanseatic League, an association of merchants around the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and at strategic locations in the hinterland, centuries ago. Employees of the tourist offices in the various cities, as well as our own landlords, will be happy to inform you about the various activities that you can undertake from a holiday home in these cities. Think, for example, of a nice sailing or walking route or a visit to a museum.

A lot of people will be tempted to visit the village Giethoorn, which is called the Dutch Venice. In the old part of the village there are canals for boating. They are crossed by bridges for walking and cycling. The nature of Overijssel will appeal to lovers of active leisure. Among the water activities are boating, sailing, rafting, stand-up paddle surfing. In the natural parks of the area, you can make trips by jeeps, bicycles or horses. A popular tourist attraction is horse carriage riding. You can order such a tour at Stalhouderij Schouwink.

For those who are on holiday with children, we recommend visiting the Avonturenpark Hellendoorn amusement park located in Hellendoorn. For those who love animals, visit the Ponypark City petting zoo in Collendoorn. Shoppers will be delighted to visit the capital's market Zwolle - Wochenmarkt Enschede. Tourists will find clothes and accessories of world brands in boutiques along Sassenstraat. Holland Casino Enschede welcomes gambling fans. Bowling can be played at Bowling Urbana.

Must sees in Overijssel

Canoeing through National Park Weerribben-Wieden

The water-rich Weerribben-Wieden National Park is located in the Kop van Overijssel. It is considered to be the largest lowland swamp in north-western Europe and was created centuries ago by peat extraction in this area. In the national park the reed and the many waterways characterize the landscape. Polders, ditches, lakes, reed beds and swamp forests, everything can be found here. Because water and land alternate here, the area is the habitat of thousands of plant and animal species. An example of this is the bright orange butterfly. Because of the large amount of water, a canoe or small boat is the best and most fun way to explore the National Park on your own. For lovers, there are even real canoe routes! Along the way you will spot special birds and perhaps even one of the otters, which have been successfully reintroduced here since 2002.

Giethoorn

Part of the Weerribben-Wieden National Park is the "Venice of the North": Giethoorn. Along the tree-lined village moat of this picturesque town you can walk over narrow bridges and past impressive farms. Cars cannot reach the water-rich centre of Giethoorn, so everything happens here by boat or by leg wagon. The various large and small lakes around Giethoorn form the backdrop for all kinds of water sports activities. Would you rather take it easy? Rent a boat and enjoy the soothing effect of the water that surrounds you with the sun on your face. Moor at one of the uninhabited islands and have a picnic. A nice alternative for a lunch in the tourist village centre of Giethoorn!

Sallandse heuvelrug

This national park was formed in the ice age and some parts of the landscape can feel like they don’t belong in the Netherlands. The park is well known for its beautiful scenery because of the large heathlands. The heathlands are the main characteristic of this park. Throughout the park there are many hiking and cycling routes. The highest point in the park is 75 meters high and you have a beautiful view over Salland. Furthermore, the park has a large variety of woodland with for example Scots pine, larch, douglas, birch, oak, and beech trees. Also, the rhododendrons have a massive presence.

The most characteristic features of the national park are the topography and the cranberries grow in large numbers. We also find the last Dutch population of black grouse (Tetrao tetrix), nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeusnightjar), and several species of lizards such as the viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara). The park has numerous trails for walking, cycling, mountain biking and horse riding. It is an important area for long distance hiking and cycling, and there are many campgrounds, restaurants and hotels.

Landgoed Twickel

This beautiful historical estate is located in Ambt Delden and is certainly worth a visit. You will find 148 farms there. There are also water mills, a water tower and a sawmill. In addition, there is a landscape with age-old oaks, fens, heaths and fields. The gardens and the park are also a must-see. This is an oasis of tranquility and a feast for the eyes. There are various gardens, each with their own characteristics. For example, you will find the following gardens: Renaissance, Baroque and Landscape style. There are also several vegetable gardens and a Japanese garden.