A 3.7-kilometre hike through the damp low-lying area, a route over eight hills and a path with a pedestrian ferry each offer something different. There is also an architectural history featuring distinctive buildings and preserved interiors. To plan your visit, choose according to your specific interests – such as route length, changes in elevation, waterways or local history.
Historic Buildings and Local History
De Refter stands on a steep slope in the former upper garden of Huis Ubbergen. The neo-Gothic chapel and boarding-school complex was built between 1910 and 1916 and has stained-glass windows in the choir. The architect J.H. (Jean) van Groenendael built De Refter in 1910. This building thus brings together a clearly defined construction period, a distinctive location and a specific architectural detail.
Dennenheuvel was built between 1899 and 1902, blending English country-house style with Art Nouveau. Its well-preserved interior, richly decorated with Art Nouveau motifs, is exceptionally rare in the Netherlands. Torensigt has a different focus: the study and library of Dommer van Poldersveldt have been preserved there. Architecture enthusiasts will find a range of highlights, from Dennenheuvel’s stylistic mix to the specific historic rooms at Torensigt.
A park in Beek-Ubbergen contains a portrait of a washerwoman, recalling the many laundries that once operated in the village. The image adds a connection to everyday life in the past to the architectural history.
Hiking Trails Among Springs, Hills and Rivers
The Dorpsommetje Ubbergen-laag is 3.7 kilometres long and leads through the low-lying, damp part of Ubbergen, the spring area and the Beek polder. Its starting point is a five-minute walk from the Ubbergen – Ubbergse Holleweg bus stop on route 80 between Nijmegen and Millingen. Check the bus information before travelling, as details may change.
The N70 Natuurwandelroute focuses on the ridges: it crosses eight hills through the hilly forests of Berg en Dal and the surrounding area. Along the way, it offers views over polders, floodplains and the river landscapes of the Waal and Rhine. The Werelderfgoedwandeling Neder-Germaanse Limes takes a different approach. It starts with a steep ascent and descent through Heerlijkheid Beek, and also leads to the Kleine Bartholomeuskerkje at Nieuwe Holleweg 2 in Beek-Ubbergen.
The Beken, bronnen en bergen route follows spring water along streams towards the Ooijpolder and crosses the Meertje on a pedestrian ferry. Check that the ferry is operating before setting out on this route. If you prefer cycling, the Nijmegen–Beek stage of the Via Romana leads to Roman sights in the Ooijpolder and along the stuwwal near Beek-Ubbergen. Check the route before setting off.
Day Trips and Practical Information
The Wylerbergmeer recreation area offers beaches, a large sunbathing lawn and views of the hilly landscape of Berg en Dal. Children can enjoy the play equipment, beach and water. Check local conditions before swimming. For a different kind of outing, the Kabouterroute Beek-Ubbergen starts at the Hotel-Restaurant ’t Spijker, Rijksstraatweg 191. Along the route, children search for forest gnomes hiding in mushrooms and in the Kabouterboom. Check the starting point before travelling, as this information may change.
The Landschapmuseum features eleven unique miniature landscapes and a walk through the Palland demonstration area. Plan your visit around the opening arrangements and check them in advance. From Nijmegen railway station, German bus route 58 towards Emmerich Bahnhof goes to the “Beek Sportpark” stop; from there, it is about a fifteen-minute walk to the museum. Check bus and walking directions before travelling, too.
Discover more destinations: Ooij, Ubbergen.
Return to the main travel overview: Ubbergen.
