Millingen aan de Rijn lies where the Rhine enters the Netherlands and divides into the Waal and the Pannerdensch Kanaal. The surrounding river landscape is particularly vivid in the Millingerwaard, where floodplain forests, wetlands, species-rich grasslands, ponds and river dunes alternate. The area is part of the Gelderse Poort Natura 2000 site along the river. Wild horses and cattle roam freely, keeping the vegetation short and varied.
Hiking between river floodplains and villages
There are different distances and formats to choose from for hikes. “Rondje Pontje Te Voet” is a circular walk of more than 12 kilometres; Millingen aan de Rijn is recommended as the starting point, where the walk begins at the ferry to the opposite bank. The ferry to Pannerden is for pedestrians and cyclists. Much of the circular route passes through the surrounding area, partly along dikes and partly through villages. The route is also accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Stage 17 of the Pieterpad offers a different distance: it passes through the river landscape near Millingen in the direction of Groesbeek and is 20 kilometres long. In the surrounding area, the trail towards Leuth passes De Plezenburg, an old terp farmhouse dating from 1810. This means you can consider a circular walk of more than 12 kilometres and a 20-kilometre stage as different hiking options. In the Millingerwaard, access for hikers depends on the river’s water level; when the water is higher, paths such as “de drempel” and the wandelkade may be flooded. Take this into account when planning.
Experience nature from different perspectives
The audio route “Het verhaal van de Millingerwaard” shares stories about animals and natural features as you walk through the area, with 14 audio excerpts. The excerpts begin at different points, marked by signs with QR codes. Another option is “Expeditie Millingerwaard”: this morning guided excursion through the Millingerwaard is led by a Staatsbosbeheer guide and includes looking for beaver tracks. You can choose between an audio route with several stops and a guided nature exploration.
Cycling routes from Millingen
The first “Steengoed” cycling route runs from Millingen aan de Rijn through the Ooijpolder to Nijmegen. It starts at the car park on Zeelandsestraat near cycling junction 94. Another option is the cycling route “Kunstgeheimen: Nijmegen – Millingen aan de Rijn”, which passes the Telpost Millingen in the Ooijpolder. The descriptions provide different pointers for choosing a route: “Steengoed” gives the route between the towns, while “Kunstgeheimen” names a point along the route.
Churches and local history
The history of the buildings also offers a range of topics. The Roman Catholic parish church of Sint Antonius van Padua was built in 1913–1914 on the site of the completely demolished medieval church, to a design by architect W.A.M. te Riele Gzn. It is a three-aisled cruciform basilica in the neo-Gothic style. The Zalmkerkje in Millingen aan de Rijn was built in 1880 for the modest Protestant population in Millingen and the surrounding villages. Since 2023, the Zalmkerkje has been administered by the Stichting Zalmpodium. The histories of the two buildings thus differ both in their architecture and in the reasons they were built.
For the main travel overview: Millingen aan de Rijn.
