Around the corner: Aalten

At Hofparken Wiltershaar you can truly relax. Planning a day away from all the peace and quiet? In this series, we highlight nice towns and villages that are just around the corner, both on and across the border. In fact, there are many picturesque villages and towns in the area that are well worth a visit.

They are towns that do not immediately come to mind for a small city trip, but the hidden stories are there for the taking in these villages. In addition, they offer interesting sights and several lovely places to eat and drink. We are kicking off with the village: Aalten.

The village of Aalten

Aalten is a picturesque village with about 17,000 inhabitants and houses a lot of history, such as from World War II. This village also typifies the Achterhoek by its high location in a hilly area with many small dirt roads.

This area is characterized by the many Angerdorf-type villages, such as Aalten itself. This a village form in which villages lie on the edge of various sandy soils in the Netherlands. These were mainly formed in the Middle Ages. You will find these Angerdorf-type villages mainly in parts of the Netherlands at the transitions between dry sandy soils and natural meadows.

There is much to discover in the village bordering Germany, despite its size.

Hidden stories

This Angerdorf-type village harbors many stories, and chances are these stories have never reached you before. Aalten has no less than three different museums that tell you more about the history of the village, World War II and about the Achterhoek. The Aaltens Industrie Museum gives you a unique view with original material about the history of Aalten.

In this museum, you will find remnants of bedrooms, classrooms and there is an exhibition about horn processing companies. You can also admire documents, photos, and other objects from that time in the museum.

The Farm Museum de Neeth provides a realistic impression of the daily life of people who used to live in the Achterhoek. Here their life and work are the focus. Here you will find old agricultural tools, costumes, original farm kitchens including supplies. The museum also organizes activities such as hiking and biking tours, and covered wagon rides, but you can also attempt to find the exit of the maze, which is made in the cornfield.

The special Nationaal Onderduikmuseum is a resistance museum. Learn more about the resistance, how people lived daily under poor conditions and what choices people had to make in those days. Fascinated or want to learn more? Then this is a museum that definitely deserves your attention.

Aalten in particular is the right place to learn much more about the resistance of Dutch people at that time because in those days many residents of the village sheltered relatively many people in hiding. This museum offers a realistic and unique look behind the scenes of stories that were never told.

Culinary enjoyment

There is more to be found around the market in Aalten than museums. You will also find several small boutiques with local products, but above all, you will find many nice terraces and delicious eateries in Aalten. In Aalten you can have a drink while enjoying delicious tapas, eat out at a farmhouse or have lunch with a magnificent view of the Karpermeer. With a clear blue sky and sunshine as a backdrop, you can imagine yourself in Italy.

There is a menu that suits everyone's culinary wishes since the culinary options in Aalten are endless. Below we have listed some tips for you where you can have a delicious meal and a drink, and relax after a fun activity.

1. 1. Restaurant ’t Noorden;
2. 2. Olde Marck Herbergh ‘d;
3. 3. Smidse Culinair;
4. 4. Restaurant-café Slegers;
5. 5. Oerkroeg Schilders;
6. 6. Restaurant Karpermeer;
7. 7. Broeder & Zuster;
8. 8. Eetcafé ’t Raadhuys;
9. 9. Suzies Farm.

Aalten vineyard

It's not only in Tuscany that you'll find beautiful vineyards, you'll also find them in the Achterhoek region of Aalten. Are you a wine enthusiast? Then be sure to visit Wijngoed de Hennepe. This wine estate is hidden somewhere in the bocage landscape of the Achterhoek. They have been growing their own grapes on this old ash land for years. These grapes are transformed into delicious homegrown Achterhoek wines.

Ask for a tour and they will take you through their vineyard. Hans and Jannie will be happy to tell you more about their passion, methods, the process, and much more.

De Hennepe grows its grapes as naturally as possible. They take into account the fertility of the soil by, among other things, not using artificial fertilizers. In Hans' birthplace, wines are now being made in a sustainable way and we can only applaud this. Genuine organic wines from Achterhoek soil.

At the end of the tour you can also taste the different wines and, of course, buy them. Why go all the way to Tuscany when you can experience the same thing nearby?

Local events

Are you staying at Hofparken Wiltershaar between May and October? If so, keep a close eye on local events because there are plenty being organized. Do you love classic cars? If so, pay attention because in May the May Festival takes place with a free market, music, and a classic car show.

There is a three-day wine festival held in June, in August the AaltenDagen takes place and in September you can visit the Volkfsfeest (a lot of fun for children).

In short: Aalten is a small village with big plans.