Cycle route of the month August 2025 Kreis Viersen: cycling route into the Netherlands

From the Deversdonk parking lot, it first goes south to the junction (JP) 55 in the town center of Grefrath. Cyclists leave Grefrath and ride along a former railway line to JP 63 in the Süchtelner Höhen protected landscape area. Subsequently, they reach JP 12 in Sassenfeld.

The route leads westward along the railway cycle path to JP 61 at the Nettetal-Kaldenkirchen train station. Along the way, cyclists pass the Large and Small DeWitt Lakes. Then it goes north to the Dutch junction (NL JP) 19 at the former Schwanenhaus border crossing.

From here, the route follows the Dutch cycle junction network. It heads south of the city of Venlo to NL JP 15. The route partly runs on unpaved paths through the 247-hectare Dutch nature reserve Groote Heide. This area was used for centuries for sheep grazing and served as an airport during the Second World War. Today, the focus is on preserving the characteristic heath landscape in this largely closed, large forest area, as rare breeding birds such as the black-throated thrush and the yellowhammer make their home here.

The route goes via NL JP 13 and NL JP 16 before cyclists reach the cycle junction network of Kreis Viersen again. They continue through the Venloer Heide nature reserve and reach JP 2. Further along, participants pass the Krickenbeck Lakes. On the way to JP 47, the route offers a view of Krickenbeck Castle. This Lower Rhine moated castle was built around the mid-13th century and is privately owned today.

Immediately behind the castle is the Krickenbeck Lakes information center. It is worth visiting the biological station here to learn more about the work and diversity in the surrounding nature reserves. From JP 47 in Hombergen, the tour proceeds to JP 21.

The route goes downhill on unpaved paths through a forest area in the Krickenbeck Lakes and Small DeWitt Lake nature reserves before reaching JP 44 in the Vorster Heide protected landscape area. Cyclists follow the signage toward JP 6. Just before JP 6, the tour leads at the Grasheider Straße/Kloster Mariendonk junction to JP 82.

The route passes through the Grasheide and Mülhausener Benden nature reserves. Participants cross the Niers River at the Langendonker Mill. This former corn and oil mill from the 14th century was powered by two water wheels and also ground tobacco leaves. With the regulation of the Niers, mill operations ceased around 1930.

Further along, the route leads to JP 82 at the EisSport & EventPark Grefrath. It is worth visiting the Lower Rhine open-air museum of Kreis Viersen here, which illustrates work and life in the Lower Rhine during the pre-industrial era. In the Dorenburg, a water castle whose history dates back to 1326, changing exhibitions are offered. Interested visitors can find more information at www.kreis-viersen.de/themen/freizeit/niederrheinisches-freilichtmuseum.

Back on the route, cyclists reach JP 55 at the starting point of the August cycle route of the month in the center of Grefrath. Numerous cafes and restaurants invite you to refresh yourself after the tour.