Datteln can be planned around three themes: water, routes and everyday history. The city is home to the Dortmund-Ems Canal, the Rhine-Herne Canal, the Datteln-Hamm Canal and the Wesel-Datteln Canal. There are also the Haard, riverside paths and the Dattelner Meer.

Canals and the Dattelner Meer

The Dattelner Meer is a large body of water at the intersection of the Wesel-Datteln Canal and the Dortmund-Ems Canal. The Datteln Blue Eight leads past the lock complex to the Dattelner Meer. From a bridge, the route offers panoramic views of Datteln Harbour, the Dattelner Meer and the canal junction.

There are also specific options on the water: in Datteln, the canals offer 19 kilometres of routes for rowing, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding. You can focus on activities on the water or on the paths along the banks.

Hiking and cycling

The Datteln Blue Eight is a 17-kilometre permanent hiking trail. There are also 35 kilometres of attractive riverside paths for hiking and cycling. The Blue Eight is a clearly named hiking route; on the riverside paths, you can choose between hiking and cycling.

For mountain biking, the “Haard on Tour” circular route is another option. It is 42 kilometres long, runs through the municipal areas of Haltern, Datteln, Marl and Oer-Erkenschwick, and mostly follows forest tracks and numerous natural singletrack trails. Trail conditions can change seasonally; check them before setting out.

The route lengths can help you choose, but they are not directly comparable in terms of time: the 17 kilometres are for a hiking trail, while the 42 kilometres are for a mountain biking loop. The Haard also offers a range of options: more than a quarter of it lies within Datteln’s municipal area, and it is part of the 1,040-square-kilometre Hohe Mark Nature Park. There are opportunities for hiking, Nordic walking, horse riding and cycling. The wider travel destination of Recklinghausen also offers a regional perspective on riding trails: the Haard’s forests have more than 100 kilometres of riding trails, while the riding trail network in the district of Recklinghausen extends for more than 300 kilometres. Long-distance cycling routes in the district are signposted and run mostly away from main roads.

A look at everyday history

Datteln’s 1950s Museum offers a glimpse of everyday life during Germany’s post-war economic boom. Its exhibits are fully functional and used in everyday operation. This gives the museum a different focus from the routes and water activities: everyday history takes centre stage here. Check current visiting arrangements before your visit.

Spread activities across your days away

If you plan to explore several themes, spread them across your days away and leave time for getting around, meals and breaks.

Discover more destinations: Haltern Am See, Oer-Erkenschwick, Hervest, Recklinghausen, Herten, Castrop-Rauxel, Waltrop, Gladbeck.

Back to the main travel overview: Recklinghausen.