Bronckhorst - municipality of the Netherlands

Bronkhorst is a municipality in the middle of the Achterhoek, Gelderland, The Netherlands. The municipality has been around since 2005, when it was created by merging the former municipalities of Hengelo, Hummelo en Keppel, Steenderen, Vorden and Zelhem. This makes Bronckhost the 12th largest municipality of the Netherlands. Its name is derived from the smallest city in the Netherlands, Bronkhorst, which can also be found in this region.

Understand

Bronckhorst itself has little history as it has only been around for just over 10 years. Its predecessors however have some history to their name.

Hengelo

For other places with the same name, see Bronckhorst (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Hengelo in the province of Overijssel. Hengelo is a village with many events, varying in size. Most notably is Hengelo's motorraces, with an annual road race on the Varsselring-circuit.

Hummelo and Keppel

Hummelo is a town along the road between Doetinchem and Zutphen. The road however, has been permanently re-rerouted around the town, causing its main road's restaurants and shops to loose profit. Never the less, Hummelo is a pretty village that is worth visiting. The name of Keppel implies that it is a single town, though in reality, it consists of Hoog-Keppel and Laag-Keppel (lit.: High-Keppel and Low-Keppel). Hoog-Keppel is, in short, no more than urban housing. Laag-Keppel is the main attraction of the two. The 19th century Keppelse Watermolen is a picturesque watermill between the Oude IJssel river and an old, partially blocked off diversion of the river. On this former island in the river you will also find Kasteel Keppel, which is a castle, originally built around 1350, and rebuilt in the 17th century after it has been destroyed in 1582.

Steenderen

Steenderen is a town that's mostly known for its factories of Aviko and FrieslandCampina. Steenderen is historically an industrial town, and it doesn't pose much for the average traveller.

Vorden

Vorden is the castletown of the Achterhoek, if not Gelderland. It counts a grand total of eight castles, all of which surround the town. Quite some time ago, in 1976, it was crowned the pearl of Gelderland for its many castles. None of these castles haven't changed much over time, and are still worth visiting or viewing when visiting isn't possible.

• VVV Vorden, Kerkstraat 1B, NL-7251 BC Vorden, 52.10438°, 6.31272°, +31 575 553 222. 2016-10-30

Zelhem

Zelhem is one of the larger towns in Bronckhorst, though its centre is the thing worth visiting Zelhem for, is rather small. The town's main pearl is the Lambertichurch in the middle of the town. When walking long distances, you might be interested for its location on the Pieterpad.

Get in

By car

The main roads in Bronckhorst are the N314, N315 and N316. To get into the region, travel to Doetinchem, Doesburg or Zutphen. When in Doetinchem, use the N317 followed by the N314 to get to Hummelo and Steenderen, the N316 to get to Hengelo and Vorden, or the N315 to get to Zelhem. When in Doesburg, use the N317 to get to Keppel. At its roundabout after Laag-Keppel, either use the N314 to get to Hummelo or Steenderen, or stay on the N317 to get to any of the other towns via Doetinchem. When travelling from Zutphen, use the N314 to get to Hummelo or Steenderen, the N319 to get to Vorden, and from there, use the N316 to get to Hengelo or Zelhem (via the N330).

Get around

The villages themselves can be explored by bike or by foot. When travelling between them, consider using a car or public transport.

See

• Bronkhorst, Kapelstraat 2, NL-7226 LL Bronkhorst, 52.0765°, 6.1790°. The smallest city of the Netherlands. Bronkhorst consists of no more than ten roads and under 100 houses. It gained the title of city by buying city rights in medieval times. The city still looks medieval, featuring narrow roads and old buildings, many of which are considered monuments. 2016-10-30
• Keppelse Watermolen, Dorpstraat 30, NL-6998 Laag-Keppel, 51.9940°, 6.2236°. 2016-10-30
• Kasteel Keppel, Dorpstraat, NL-6998 AA Laag-Keppel, 51.9935°, 6.2273°, +31 314 381 316. 2016-10-30
• Hackfort Castle, Baakseweg 8, NL-7251 RH Vorden, 52.1002°, 6.2766°, +31 575 552 586. 2016-10-30
• Vorden Castle, De Horsterkamp 8-14, NL-7251 AZ Vorden, 52.1013°, 6.3226°, +31 575 550 684. 2016-10-30

Do

Buy

Eat

• Restaurant Het Wapen van Bronkhorst, Boterstraat, Bronkhorst, 52.0759°, 6.1788°, +31 575 451 265. 2016-10-30
• Café-Restaurant Den Bremer, Zutphen Emmerikseweg 37, NL-7227 DG Toldijk, 52.0533°, 6.2214°, +31 575 451 205. 2016-10-30
• Hotel-Café-Restaurant Herfkens, Zutphen Emmerikseweg 64, NL-7223 DJ Baak, 52.0765°, 6.2252°, +31 575 441 252. 2016-10-30
• Ludgerusgebouw, Vierakkerseweg 37, NL-7233 SH Vierakker, 52.09233°, 6.25558°, +31 615 500 586. 2016-10-30
• D'n Olde Kriet, Dorpstraat 25, NL-7234 SM Wichmond, 52.08836°, 6.25824°, +31 575 441 600. 2016-10-30
• Keuken van Hackfort, Baakseweg 6, NL-7251 RH Vorden, 52.10041°, 6.27787°, +31 575 555 015. 2016-10-30
• Eethuis Anytyme D'Olde Schole, Rijksweg 88, NL-6988 AG Laag-Keppel, 51.99692°, 6.22026°, +31 314 380 050. 2016-10-30
• Het Wapen van Heeckeren, Zelhemseweg 16, NL-6999 DN Hummelo, 52.0036°, 6.2656°, +31 314 382 600. 2016-10-30
• Tapperij en Eeterij de Smoks, Markt 23, NL-7021 AA Zelhem, 52.00652°, 6.34921°, +31 314 620 055. 2016-10-30
• 't Olde Schot, Varsselsestraat 11, NL-7021 MV Zelhem, 52.03221°, 6.35109°, +31 314 623 750. 2016-10-30

Drink

• Vineyard Um d'n Olden Smid, Keijenborgseweg 31, NL-7021 LW Zelhem, 52.02239°, 6.29378°, +31 314 641 812, info@wijngaardumdenoldensmid.nl. 2016-10-30

Sleep

• Herberg de Gouden Leeuw, Bovenstraat 2, NL-7226 LM Bronkhorst, 52.07612°, 6.17933°, +31 575 451 231. €54 2016-10-30
• Hotel Heezen, J.F. Oltmanstraat 5, NL-7221 NA Steenderen, 52.06336°, 6.18708°, +31 575 451 204. €75 2016-10-30
• Hotel/Café/Restaurant De Gouden Karper, Dorpstraat, Hummelo, 52.0056°, 6.2349°, +31 314 381 214. €91 2016-10-30
• Hotel de Gravin van Vorden, Stationsweg 24, NL-7251 EM Vorden, 52.1067°, 6.3173°, +31 575 551 227. €70 2016-10-30
• Hotel/Restaurant Bakker, Dorpstraat, Vorden, 52.10354°, 6.31525°, +31 575 551 312. €100 2016-10-30

Connect

Go next

While you're around, why not visit the nearby cities? From Hummelo, Keppel and Zelhem, the closest cities are Doetinchem and Doesburg. From Hengelo, Steenderen and Vorden, the closest city is Zutphen, and the nearby municipality of Oost Gelre has many events to offer, and may be rewarding to visit. Larger cities nearby include Arnhem, Deventer and Enschede. If you'd rather hop over the border into Germany, then consider visiting Bocholt, Emmerich am Rhein or Kleve