Leisure: Cross-border cycle route tells "smuggling stories"

The new cross-border "smuggling route" has now been officially reopened with a cycle tour. It leads through the German-Dutch border area between Voorst, Dinxperlo, Anholt, Suderwick, Megchelen and Gendringen. Along the route, you can learn exciting stories from the past.

Three different routes are available: 49 kilometres, 33 kilometres and 17 kilometres. Those interested can find the smuggling route in a brochure or online at https://achterhoek.nl/Smokkelroute.

The first brochures were presented to the deputy mayor of Bocholt, Kerstin Erkens, the mayor of Aalten, Anton Stapelkamp, the mayor of Isselburg, Michael Carbanje, and the alderman of the municipality of Oude IJsselsreek, John Haverdil. They attended the opening and were delighted with this additional cycle route.

Reopening of the smuggling route

There was a lot of smuggling in the border area of the newly reopened smuggling route, which led to many stories and anecdotes. The official guests tried out one story directly at the opening: In the past, valuable hazelnuts and coffee beans were thrown across the border. The mayors used slingshots to catapult hazelnuts, which were caught in a bed sheet. These and other smuggling stories can be listened to and read online via 10 QR codes along the route.

Delighted about the reopening

The route and stories for the reopened smuggling route came from the Anholt and Suderwick heritage organisations, among others. They worked together with the two Dutch municipalities of Aalten and Oude IJsselstreek, Tourist Info Isselburg and Achterhoek Toerisme. The cycle route is signposted and leads along both paved cycle paths and unpaved roads. A tourist experience reminiscent of earlier times.

Strengthening the BOCHOLT BRAND

By reactivating the route, two distinctive features, namely cycling and the proximity to the Dutch border, have been strengthened in equal measure, the city of Bocholt is pleased to report. This will have a positive effect on cycling tourism in the border region and the leisure experience of the citizens living here. The background to this is a representative brand study that identifies cycling and proximity to the border as distinctive characteristics of the city.