Pieterpad Camino Trail: Coevorden to Vorden

Make your way to Coevorden and check into your accommodation this afternoon. Coevorden is one of the oldest fortified towns in The Netherlands. Wander through its star-shaped layout, admire the old ramparts, and enjoy the calm of its leafy parks. The town’s medieval origins still shape its atmosphere today.

Walking out of Coevorden and straight into the sweeping beauty of the Poort van Drenthe, marked by its striking stone artwork. As you leave Drenthe behind and enter Overijssel, the trail follows the peaceful valley of the Overijsselse Vecht, guiding you toward the storybook town of Gramsbergen with its lovingly restored houses and iconic Pieterpad statue. The path then leads through the quiet hamlet of Ane and into the atmospheric England Forest before you finish your day in the welcoming town of Hardenberg. Distance: 19km/11.8mi

Your day begins along the small River Molengoot, the former course of the river Vecht, before you enter the Rheezermaten nature reserve. Soon you reach the enchanting village of Rheeze, a protected medieval gem. From here, the trail leads you through the quiet forests near Hardenberg and along the banks of the Vecht and Beneden-Regge rivers. Crossing the elegant Junne estate, you finish today in the historic town of Ommen. Distance: 21km/13mi

The path continues through the Vecht and Beneden-Regge basins, a hilly part of Overijssel. This is evident from the Ommerland watchtower at the top the Besthemerberg (34m/112ft). Climb the tower and enjoy the beautiful view over the Vecht valley. Other Dutch 'mountains' on the route include the Archemerberg (78m/256 ft) and the adjacent Lemelerberg (43m/144ft). In this undulating landscape, pass the 'Fat Stone' boulder and walk along the juniper bushes on the Lemelerberg. Admire the monumental 'Lion' in Park 1813 before reaching Hellendoorn via the wooded Eelerberg estate. Distance: 20km/12.4mi

Today’s route leads you across the sweeping Sallandse Heuvelrug, a beautiful ridge of gentle forested hills and open heath stretching between Ommen and Holten. You climb over the Hellendoornse Berg and continue toward ’t Ravijn, where the striking ‘Stardust’ artwork recalls the area’s brief gold-rush past. A little further on, take a moment at the Twilhaar forced-labour camp memorial. The trail then rewards you with wide panoramas from the Haarlerberg and Holterberg before guiding you through the Noetselenberg estate and down into the village of Holten. Distance: 16km/9.9mi

Leaving Holten behind, you wander through the quiet hamlet of Beuseberg on the edge of the Overijssel moraine, before following a beech-lined lane beside Schipbeek brook. After crossing the brook, the landscape opens into the Achterhoek, a region known for its traditional farms and countryside. A highlight of the day is the elegant Verwolde manor with its charming tea garden—and the famous Dikke Boom, the largest oak tree in the Netherlands. As you continue toward Laren, the route leads you past De Binnenhof, an 18th-century rectory later transformed into a stately 19th-century villa, adding a final touch of heritage to this stage. Distance: 15km/9.3mi

Your final walking day takes you through the peaceful hamlet of Groot Dochteren, where scattered farms dot the quiet countryside. You’ll cross the Twente Canal and the Berkel River before reaching the Velthorst estate, home to a wonderful viewpoint overlooking the Kienveen landscape. The trail then leads you across wide heathlands edged with conifer forests planted in the early 20th century. Soon you arrive at the elegant neoclassical manor Het Enzerinck, a highlight built in 1826. If you still have some energy when you reach Vorden, the beautiful Hanseatic city of Zutphen is just a short nine-minute train ride away, well worth the detour Distance: 16km/9.9mi