Mill Tour of the Niers and Nette Rivers in the Viersen District

This year, the first “Bike Route of the Month” begins in Grefrath at Junction (KP) 82 near the ice rink on Stadionstraße and leads to the mills along the Niers and Nette rivers. On their way toward KP 6, cyclists first ride through the Grasheide and Mülhausener Benden nature reserve. They cross the Niers River and pass the Langendonker Mill shortly before reaching it. The former grain and oil mill, dating from the 14th century, was powered by two waterwheels and, for a time, also ground tobacco leaves. Mill operations ceased around 1930 with the regulation of the Niers River.

At the Grasheider Straße junction, the tour continues to KP 44 in the Vorster Heide landscape conservation area. The route then proceeds along quiet and partly unpaved paths to KP 21. The tour heads north across the Nette River, and cyclists pass the Flootsmühle. The former grain mill—now a residential house—was first mentioned in 1556.

The route continues along the Nordkanal to KP 52 on the Kleve district’s junction network. Cyclists pass through the Krickenbecker Seen and Kleiner DeWitt See landscape conservation area and rejoin the Viersen district’s junction network at KP 2. On the way to KP 47 in Hombergen, the route offers a view of Krickenbeck Castle. This Lower Rhine moated castle was built around the middle of the 13th century and is now privately owned.

The route continues south past junction 12 to junction 1 in the Sassenfeld district. On the way to junction 13 in Lobberich, cyclists first pass the Neumühle, which today houses a residence. The route continues past the Windmühlenbruch and the Nelsenmühle, which was first mentioned in a document in 1495. The former mill once ground flour and produced oils. Today, it is used as a residence.

The tour proceeds along quiet farm roads to checkpoint 67. On the way to checkpoint 63, cyclists pass Bocholt Castle. Today, only the tower ruins and the late-Gothic gatehouse from 1450 serve as reminders of the origins of this prominent Lower Rhine noble family. Today, the castle is used as a venue for events and concerts. The tour continues along comfortable paths toward checkpoint 55 in the center of Grefrath. Continuing northward, cyclists pass the Lower Rhine Open-Air Museum before returning to the starting point at checkpoint 82 after about 38 kilometers.