The best city hikes and walks around Vreden

The city of Vreden writes: "Hilbolts Karkhoff is the local name for a small grove in Vreden's Klosterhook. For there – and this is little known – Vreden residents who fell victim to the plague were buried in the 17th century. A memorial stone with a bronze plaque was erected here in January 2008 to mark this special cemetery. The Gaxel neighborhood association 'Norbertstein' felt it was particularly important to commemorate the plague victims, who were buried here around 1666, far from the city on land belonging to the monastery, probably accompanied only by a clergyman, through this memorial stone. In 1666, Prince-Bishop Christoph Bernhard von Galen issued a ten-point edict with precise regulations to prevent the further spread of the plague. " "In the cities, church services were to be held daily, and in the countryside twice a week, during which prayers were offered for the deceased and for the averting of further harm," it stated, among other things. Strict rules applied to the relatives and homes of plague victims: Anyone who had been in an infected house or had come into contact with a sick person had to wear a "white stick" or a red cross on their chest, and houses that had not yet been cleaned had to be marked with a straw wreath or a white cross on the door. Looters were punished by having their property confiscated. The deceased had to be buried "by special undertakers, on a cart acquired specifically for this purpose, at remote locations outside the cities and inhabited villages, near chapels and the like, and only the clergy were permitted to accompany them. Hilbolt, which gives the place its name, was, along with the Schulte von Mast and Wenning farms, one of the three monastery farms in Klosterhook."

The Norbert Stone in Großemast commemorates Saint Norbert of Xanten (circa 1080–1134). In 1115, Count Norbert of Gennep was caught in a thunderstorm during his journey. He had almost reached his destination when he was struck by lightning. He survived—and changed his life. The nobleman dedicated his life to his faith and founded an order that still exists today. The Catholic Church canonized him in 1582. The local history society erected this memorial in 1934. In 2015, 900 years after the historic conversion event, Vreden celebrated the "Norbert Year." On this occasion, the local history society had a second bronze plaque installed at the memorial.

Time to take a break here.

Hilbolts Karkhoff is the local name for a small bush in the Vreden monastery hook.

The highlight is a small train ferry!

A very nice beach playground for little explorers; a trip here is definitely worth it.

The great cycle path in Vreden along the Berkel, the beautiful bridges that span the charming river, the Berkelsee, cycling is really fun here.

The beautiful cycle path along the Berkel (Flamingo route), the city park (great sculptures), the historic farmhouse museum, the Berkel power station, the Westmünsterland cultural and historical centre, the collegiate church of St. Felicitas, the parish church of St. Georg, the magnificent building of the old town hall (until 1972) with cafe and paper cutting museum on the market square, "etc." Vreden is a beautiful and interesting town and has a lot to offer.