Overijssel · Towns & regions
Sallandse Heuvelrug: Beleefweek from 10 to 18 October between Holten, Nijverdal and the Regge
On Saturday the Beleefweek begins in Salland, Overijssel, right in the autumn half-term of region North. What makes this ridge of heath, boulders and pine forest planted for mining a region of its own, and where to start.
From Saturday 10 to Sunday 18 October, the Sallandse Heuvelrug & Twents Reggedal region in Overijssel holds its Beleefweek, an autumn week of outdoor activities. There are more than 40 activities, 20 of which can only be booked during this week, the organisers report. The area covers the municipalities of Hellendoorn, Rijssen-Holten, Hof van Twente, Wierden, Twenterand, Ommen and Raalte.
The timing works out well: all of Overijssel belongs to region North for school holidays, and region North has its autumn half-term from 10 to 18 October.
Character: a ridge with a working past
The heart of the region is Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park, one of the Dutch national parks since 2004. On its website, the national park calls its heath one of the largest continuous dry heathlands in Europe. The ridge itself is a push moraine from the penultimate ice age, 200,000 to 150,000 years ago.
More interesting than its age is what people did with it. The ice left large boulders behind, which were later used to mark the boundaries of common lands, such as Marke Noetsele, Marke Haarle and Marke Hellendoorn. The original deciduous forests were cleared for farming. Later, many conifer forests were planted for the mines in the south of the country.
According to the national park, more than 75 bird species breed on the heath and in the forests. The rarest are the stonechat, the raven, the nightjar and the black grouse. You will not hear the nightjar in October: it is only in the country during the breeding season, from May to August.
Three things to see and do
The Holterberg. On top of the Holterberg lies the Holterbergplein, with places to eat and drink, a small playground and mini golf. The Canadian War Cemetery, with an information centre, is close by. Natuurmuseum Holterberg, a natural history museum on the southern flank of the park, has existed for more than eighty years and shows more than a thousand animals in life-size dioramas, from the Wadden Sea to the black grouse of the ridge. The square is often busy on Sundays; if you mainly come to walk, you can park at the free car park by Holten station.
Over the Toeristenweg and along the Regge. The Toeristenweg runs from Nijverdal to Holten straight across the ridge. It is open from 16 March to 31 October from 9.00 to 21.00, and from 1 November to 15 March from 9.00 to 17.00. East of the park, the river Regge meanders through the Twente landscape of fields framed by hedgerows and woodland, with paths past forests and meadows.
Beleefweek with rails and stars. The programme for 10 October includes the Rijssens Leemspoor, a narrow-gauge railway at the foot of the Rijsserberg (13.00–16.00), and Sterrenwacht Hellendoorn, an observatory in Nijverdal (14.30–15.30). If you prefer something quieter, the organisers say you can join a forest ranger for a walk. The full overview per day is on the Beleefweek website.
Local flavour
The Beleefweek promises tastings of regional products and bike rides with local treats. The Culinair Rondje Sallandse Heuvelrug is a bike tour that starts at Tourist Info Nijverdal (€40). Happen & Stappen in Holten combines a walk over the Holterberg and through the hedgerow landscape (€37.50, starting at Tourist Info Kulturhus Holten). If you stay overnight, the Beleefweek offers a package with a Twente snack platter or a Salland high tea. And in Hellendoorn, Gerrit Valk's bakery and ice-cream museum is open on 10 October (13.00–16.00, €5.25).
Practical information & useful links
- Beleefweek 2026: programme and bookings at sallandseheuvelrug.nl/beleefweek. Prices and times checked on 4 October 2026.
- By train: Nijverdal station is on the Zwolle–Enschede line, Holten station on the Deventer–Enschede line. Plan your journey at 9292.nl.
- Starting points with parking: Nijverdalseberg (Buitencentrum Sallandse Heuvelrug visitor centre), Holterberg (Natuurmuseum Holterberg) and Erve De Pas near Haarle. Overview at access and parking.
- In the area: landowners have rules to disturb nature as little as possible; look out for signs and closures on site.
- About the park: Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park.