The Netherlands is known for its flat lands. As an exception to the "rule" the east of the country has some nice surprises. One of them is the N70 Hiking Trail in Berg en Dal, just east the city of Nijmegen in the province of Gelderland.
The nature trail of more than 14.2 kilometres (8.8 miles) flirts several times with the German border. One has to concur eight hills on the way, with the Devil's Mountain (Duivelsberg) as one of the many highlights.
Valleys, forests, relatively steep climbs, wooden bridges, and open space ... the N70 Hiking Route has it all. Embarking on the trail in the end of September 2024 for the first time, I quickly discovered that the N70 delivered what was promised by my company: a gem for nature lovers and hikers alike.
Large parts of the N70 Hiking Trail are managed by Het Geldersch Landschap (The Landscape of Gelderland), a foundation that aims to preserve nature and landscape of the province of Gelderland.
Mushrooms in the forest
A woman walking underneath a big tree
A long the trail surprises, like these berries that have been attached to a fence pole
A lonely tree
An natural alley, flanked by tall trees
Path leading to the Tree of the Midgets
The Tree of Midgets (Kabouterboom)
Probably the most wicked spot is in the front garden of the house of the miniature museum of landscapes. All kinds of midgets, animals and other objects form an interesting collection.
The top of the Devil's Mountain (Duivelsberg), 75.9 metres or 249 feet above sea level. It has been of military importance for centuries and is the only part of Germany that the Netherlands annexed after World War 2 and which is still Dutch territory.
Worn out by ice and water a long time ago, these hollow paths are common during the N70 hike
Tamme tukkels (tame tukkles), the Dutch name for the fruits of the sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa)
