Laar: Mill, Vechte and Cycling Route

Laar brings together several distinct reasons to visit: a German-Dutch cycling route, the Vechte with seasonal boat trips, and historic buildings and art. When looking for a hotel, you can choose the focus of your stay based on whether you mainly want to cycle, plan a seasonal boat trip or are interested in architectural and local history. For planning purposes, route length and the seasonal availability of boat trips are separate considerations.

Cycling and landscape

The Laar Mill Route is a German-Dutch cycling route of about 40 kilometres. It starts at the mill in Laar, goes via Coevorden and the Laarscher Bruch nature reserve, and returns to the mill. Around Laar, bends in the Vechte and retention areas shape the landscape.

Across the County of Bentheim, heathland, raised and low-lying bogs, wooded ridges and the Vechte valley alternate. In Laar itself, the landscape is specifically characterised by the river bends and retention areas. The main route of the Grafschafter Fietsentour covers a different regional scale: it is about 220 kilometres long and passes through every municipality in the County of Bentheim. The approximately 40 kilometres of the Laar Mill Route and the roughly 220 kilometres of the Grafschafter Fietsentour therefore represent different tour lengths. Before setting off, check the current signage and route conditions, as these may change.

The Vechte and seasonal boat trips

The historic Vechtezomp de Mölle departs from the landing stage by the mill in Laar. It offers seasonal trips on the Vechte and the Coevorden-Almelo Canal. As the trips operate seasonally and depend on the operator’s availability, check current availability before travelling. This lets you plan a boat trip specifically as part of your itinerary while taking its seasonal availability into account.

Mill, church and architectural history

The tower windmill in Laar was built in 1806/07 and completely rebuilt and restored in 1981. Its original construction date and a later phase of rebuilding and restoration thus stand side by side. The Reformed church in Laar was built in 1863. Its furnishings include bells from the 15th and 16th centuries and a wood-carved pulpit from the 17th century. The church building is therefore younger than the furnishings mentioned; the buildings and their dates mark different historical periods.

Art by the river

The artwork Wortlos by Ilya and Emilia Kabakov is about one kilometre downstream from the mill, where the Vechte crosses into the Netherlands. The Laar Mill Route also passes the sculpture Chain Reaction by Bonnie Collura on the opposite bank of the Vechte. The works are therefore situated in different ways: Wortlos by its downstream location and the crossing of the border, and Chain Reaction by its position on the opposite bank and along the cycling route.

Discover more destinations: Neuenhaus, Emlichheim, Wietmarschen, Wielen, Nordhorn, Uelsen, Hoogstede, Engden.

For the broader travel overview: County of Bentheim.