Laren offers a range of ways to enjoy a stay: an old, award-winning tree, trails with their own distinctive landscapes, and summer excursions. The Dikke Boom is a pedunculate oak estimated to be around 450 to 500 years old. In 2018, it was named “Boom van Gelderland.” This puts a specific award alongside the focus on nature. You can tailor your stay to different interests: a single nature destination, a walk through varied landscapes, or an organised excursion.
The Dikke Boom as a destination in its own right
The paved Dikke Boompad leads to the tree and is marked with yellow and black, making it more accessible to people with reduced mobility. The path makes a visit to the award-winning tree the focus of an outing. Trail conditions can change; check the current situation in advance if you are taking the paved path into account when planning.
Walking trails with varied landscapes
The Laorns Enkenpad offers a different experience. It passes through fields and pastures, alongside centuries-old ash trees, and across old and new estates. The trail is marked in both directions with a blue clog symbol; check the signage before setting out, as it may change. Unlike the direct route to the Dikke Boom, the focus here is not a single tree, but a succession of open spaces, old trees and estates.
The two trails also differ in practical terms: the Dikke Boompad is characterised by its paved surface and yellow-and-black markers, while the Laorns Enkenpad has blue clog markers in both directions.
Oranjewoud is predominantly covered in Scots pine forest with dense birch undergrowth. Its landscape therefore differs from the open spaces along the Laorns Enkenpad. The Laren–Vorden section of the Pieterpad also passes through wooded surroundings. When choosing between the walking routes, you can consider the contrast between fields and pastures on the one hand and wooded stretches on the other.
Summer excursions and cycling routes
The Pannenkoekenrit is a summer tradition organised by TBL (Toeristenbelang Laren) and includes cycling and driving routes. Both types of route start and finish at the Woestenenk family’s home on Marsmansteeg. This start and return point makes the event’s logistics clear; check the details for the relevant edition before planning your route. Choosing between the cycling and driving routes changes how you make the excursion, while the start and finish remain the same.
Another route format is the Fietsvierdaagse De Achterhoek, which offers new routes every year, with distances of 30, 45 and 60 kilometres. The three distances give you an immediate way to compare the length of the ride; the specific routes change each year. Check the routes for the relevant edition before making plans. The Pannenkoekenrit provides a specific start and return point, while the Fietsvierdaagse offers three distances to choose from. The practical considerations therefore differ: for the first, the logistics of the edition matter; for the second, the first consideration is the distance you want to cover.
Discover more destinations: Eefde, Kring Van Dorth, Barchem, Almen, Gorssel
Go to the main travel overview: Lochem.
