Route tip 111 - 2nd Cycling Experience Day Lower Rhine 2025

The starting point chosen in this route description is Wassenberg (Nature Park Gate, Pontorsonallee 16, 41849 Wassenberg).

From the starting point, cycle down the hill, turn right into Parkstraße and follow the signs towards Junction (JP) 29 in Myhl. Continue to JP 27 and uphill to JP 75 on the outskirts of Wildenrath. In Dalheim-Rödgen, at the roundabout, is JP 76. From here, cycle in the direction of Oberkrüchten. Behind the town, continue through spruce forests towards JP 10 in Oberkrüchten. Shortly before this town, however, turn left to JP 21. After Elmpt with JP 26 cycle about 600 meters on Overhetfelder Straße then turn left into Lehmkuhl Street. Here lies the Elmpt Info Point (Lehmkuhl 13, Treff 13).

Back to JP 26 and then continue to JP 39 in Overhetfeld.

Through the Schwalmbruch, go to the Dutch JP 19 and continue via JPs 20, 79, 78, and 77 to Herkenbosch. From here, go to JP 71 and cycle towards Germany to JP 25 in Effeld. Just before this junction is the Wassenberg-Effeld Info Point – also a gourmet spot – (Dorfladen Mittendrin, Kreuzstraße 26). Via JPs 24 and 28 you reach JP 21 at the Wassenberg Rosstor. Here, cycling towards JP 29, turn left at the corner of Parkstraße / Pontorsonallee to the Nature Park Gate.

Highlights along the route:

From the Info Point, cycle towards Junction (JP) 29 in Myhl. On the way, on the left-hand side, is the Wingertsmühle. Situated on the edge of the Wassenberg Judenbruch, it served as an oil mill since the 16th century. In the early 19th century, however, it burned down and was rebuilt. Oil mills pressed vegetable oils from oilseeds and fruits. In the 19th century, there were 4,000 oil mills in Germany. One of the oil-bearing plants is the "Common Flax" (Linum usitatissimum), also called flax. From this old cultivated plant, not only flax oil is pressed today, but its fibers are still used to make linen.

From Myhl it continues to JP 27 and into the Schaagbachtal. The nature reserve is of outstanding importance due to its large variety of species. The brook is home to breeding grounds for the black woodpecker and the kingfisher. Large, species-rich alder fen and riparian forests stretch along the watercourse, interrupted by small moors and wet heaths. Endangered dragonfly species, the crested toad, meadow pipit, and royal fern can be found here. The Premium hiking trail "Birgeler Urwald" runs through the Schaagbachtal.

JP 75 is located on the outskirts of Wildenrath. In Dalheim-Rödgen, JP 76 is at the roundabout. From here, cycle towards Oberkrüchten.

Behind the town, continue through spruce forests. These forests also belong to the forest area of the "Meinweg", which has its origin in the Middle Ages. Until the 19th century, the forest was jointly used and managed by the inhabitants of 14 nearby villages on both sides of the current border. Cattle were grazed, heather was plucked, wood was cut, and peat was harvested. Then the communal use ended: French and Prussians parceled the area and sold it piece by piece. With the introduction of artificial fertilizer at the end of the 19th century, the use of forest areas as pasture was reduced and converted into fields. Around 1930, Meinweg changed further: large areas of heath were planted with conifers. These were used as support wood in coal mining.

Today, it is recognized how valuable the original heath-covered landscape, interspersed with small lakes, groups of trees, and ponds, is and what an irreplaceable refuge it provides for a variety of animal and plant species. On the Dutch side, the area was converted into a national park, and in Germany, large parts of the Meinweg are under nature or landscape protection.

Shortly before Oberkrüchten, turn left to JP 21.

After Elmpt with JP 26, cycle about 600 meters on Overhetfelder Straße and then turn left into Lehmkuhl Street. Here lies the Elmpt Info Point (Lehmkuhl 13, Treff 13). Back to JP 26 and then continue to JP 39 in Overhetfeld.

Here is also Haus Elmpt, which was built in the early 12th century, probably initially as a keep.

At JP 39 in Overhetfeld is the Elmpt Chapel.

Through the Schwalmbruch, go to the Dutch JP 19. This nature reserve along the Schwalm hosts many rare animal and plant species. For example, the bog myrtle moors with the fragrant bog myrtle shrub and wet heaths with cotton grass and moor lily. They form the breeding grounds of the rare bluethroat and water rail.

Continue via JPs 20, 79, 78, and 77 along and through the Dutch National Park "De Meinweg" to Herkenbosch. From here, cycle to JP 71 near the Rur River.

The Rur (Dutch: Roer) is a 164.5 km long right tributary of the Meuse, flowing through Belgium, Germany, and into the Netherlands. It springs in the High Fens and flows into the Meuse near Roermond. The bridge over the Rur at Vlodrop was of great importance for smuggling between this place and the German village Effeld after the two World Wars. The smuggling was mainly not of cigarettes or coffee, but grain, animal feed, and food were carried along paths beside the river into Germany to survive the hunger periods after the wars. A smuggler always watched out for customs officers, and if caught, they threw the sacks of smuggled goods into the river. The current carried the sacks back to the bridge in Vlodrop, where they were retrieved with long poles in a preplanned manner – and after drying, another attempt was made.

Past the Effelder Waldsee with its bathing beach and water ski facility, go to JP 25 in Effeld. Shortly before, you reach the Village Centre Info Point Mittendrin at Kreuzstraße 26.

In this village, asparagus cultivation began between 1950 and 1960. Life in the village changed through this new source of income. While about 50 years ago hardly anyone knew the small village hidden behind the forest away from the busy roads, it has now developed into a popular excursion destination thanks to asparagus, the Effeld asparagus festival, and the Effeld forest lake. During the asparagus season from April to mid-June, you can enjoy freshly prepared asparagus in the restaurants in the village.

Via JP 24, you reach JP 28. Here lies Elsum Castle. It once originated from a motte, which in turn had its origin in an estate. In 1280, Franko von Elsum was the owner. He was on the losing side at the Battle of Worringen in 1288, and so the estate Elsum came into Brabant possession. In 1325, the Duke of Brabant enfeoffed the noble lord of Wassenberg with the estate. The owners often changed in the following centuries and finally converted it into a castle. The castle is a two-part complex, consisting of the core castle built at the beginning of the 16th century and the outer bailey, which arose at the beginning of the 17th century. The core castle stands on an irregularly rectangular, artificially raised and walled island. It can be reached from the outer bailey via a bridge. The manor house has three towers. Also located on the island next to the manor house is the castle chapel built in 1860 in the Neo-Gothic style. During World War II, Elsum Castle was almost completely destroyed in January 1945. A complete reconstruction began in 1952 and was successfully completed in 1955. The castle is still privately owned today and is not open to visitors.

On the way to JP 21 at the Wassenberg Rosstor, stop briefly behind the castle. You probably don't notice it – but you are cycling right over the ground of the Rhine and Meuse. A very long time ago, these two rivers flowed alternately here. Gravel is still mined today, whose rocks originated in the Alps or the Ardennes. In the distance, you can see the hills of the Wassenberger Horst, which was once the steep bank of the two great rivers.

At junction 21 you reach the Rosstor. Here you should get off and take a walk through the town.

Emperor Henry II gave his vassal Gerhard von Antoing the land on the lower Rur in 1021. After the expansion of the motte, today's Burgberg, he called himself "Count of Wassenberg." One of his descendants, Count Gerhard III, founded the St. George's Basilica in 1118. In the 12th century, Wassenberg came under the Dukes of Limburg. In 1206, the Battle for the German throne raged in the Rur meadow near Orsbeck between Philip of Swabia and Otto IV of Brunswick.

Wassenberg already had town rights in 1273 and was protected by a wall with watchtowers, which is still partially preserved today. The keep (castle) and church tower were built after 1400. During the Reformation, the Wassenberg preachers acted, who were associated with the faith of the Anabaptists. In the 17th century, there was a reformed congregation. As a minority, it had its own court church. Another minority were Jews, who owned a small synagogue until 1938, which was destroyed the day after the Reich pogrom night.

After the revolutionary wars, Wassenberg belonged until 1814 to the French Roer department and came to Prussia after the Congress of Vienna. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Dutch religious refugees brought weaving crafts to Wassenberg. From this, a flourishing textile industry developed at the end of the 19th century, which slowly disappeared from the entire region after the 1960s.

Cycling towards JP 29, turn left at the corner of Parkstraße / Pontorsonallee to the Nature Park Gate.