Cottages Overijssel

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.

Places to stay

Twente

Twente is probably the most famous region of Overijssel. The region is located in the far southeast of the province and is full of charming towns and villages. To the east and north of Twente is neighbouring Germany. A holiday home in Overijssel is therefore not only the perfect place to discover the primeval Dutch nature, but also to see the nature of our eastern neighbours!

Border region with Germany

The border region with Germany has beautiful green nature, cultural highlights and charming towns and villages. Visit Bad Bentheim with its famous castle, from where you have a beautiful view over the wooded surroundings of the village and where you can walk and cycle without having to worry about large differences in altitude. Just north of Bad Bentheim is Nordhorn. In this city you can visit the zoo or go for a walk through the green city park, but also the shopping enthusiasts can indulge themselves there. Characteristic for the city of Nordhorn is the river Vecht, which makes its way through the city. To the east of Nordhorn lies the enormous forest and heathland area of Engdener Wüste/Heseper Moor.

Holten

Holten is a place in the province of Overijssel, located on the south side of the Sallandse Heuvelrug at the foot of Holterberg. The village, which has approximately 9,000 inhabitants, is situated in beautiful rural surroundings. From your holiday home in Holten you can take beautiful walks through the national park the Sallandse Heuvelrug. You can also take a look in the village centre of Holten. In the cosy village there are various places of interest. From your cottage you can take a look at the old village church or at the remains of castle De Wardenborch.

Unpredictable weather

Overijssel has a temperate maritime climate with a clear distinction between the four seasons. Each season has an official length of three months. In reality however, you see that the weather does not always take this into account. In spring, for example, you may experience wintery days where it can be very cold, but also summery days where you can roam outside without your jacket. The same applies to autumn. The winter period can be quite cold in Overijssel. Relatively long periods of frost and night frost are common. Nowadays there are also winters that are more autumnal than wintry. During the summer months, the average afternoon temperature is a little over 20 degrees Celsius. The average precipitation here is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year. During the coldest winter days, precipitation often comes down as snow or sleet.

The best period to visit the Netherlands is from May until September, however because there are no extreme weather conditions, you could visit it all year round. For the hottest temperatures we recommend you going in July and August because these periods tend to have the most hours of sun and warm temperatures. For exploring and undertaking activities May and June are more recommendable. Taking an umbrella with you is a good idea as the Netherlands can have long periods of rain and wind. Just make sure to check the forecast when you have booked your trip as the weather can be quite unpredictable.

Stay in a cottage in nature

The varied landscape around the holiday homes in Overijssel naturally also requires a wide range of accommodations. Nature.house is the right place for this. On our website we offer you many nature houses in Overijssel, varying from forest hut and group accommodation to luxury villa and safari tent. So, there is plenty of choice and there are plenty of opportunities for your travel group to find a suitable holiday home. With the help of our search filters, you can easily find the most suitable holiday home for your next holiday.

For all our nature cottages is that they are a nice place throughout the year to spend a holiday with the whole family. Overijssel is in all seasons a wonderful place to stay. You can walk, cycle and canoe, but also visit museums, birdwatching from your boat or simply relax in your nature house. Whatever your holiday plans are, you can carry them out in our holiday homes in Overijssel. Are you coming here soon together with your partner, friends, family or just enjoy the peace, space, nature and each other? Welcome!