Discover Zelhem: History, Trails and Nature

Zelhem offers several specific themes to help you plan your stay: the history of Hof Smedekinck, the Lambertikerk and trails through the village and surrounding area. There are also natural areas and Zwembad De Brink. If you’re looking for a hotel in Zelhem, these different points of interest can help you tailor your stay to your interests.

History in a Farmstead, Church and Mill

Hof Smedekinck has been documented since 1341 as a fief of the monastery in Werden (Germany), founded by Ludger. Since 2007, the restored farmstead and its barns have housed a permanent exhibition, as well as regularly changing exhibitions and themed days. The museum offers insights into the region’s origins and the way Zelhem’s residents lived over the centuries.

The Lambertikerk is a Late Gothic pseudo-basilica with a 3/8-closed choir and a west tower; it originally had Romanesque origins. After a collapse, the church was rebuilt in 1662. The details of the choir’s end and the tower describe specific architectural features, while the rebuilding marks a distinct chapter in its history.

Today, the Ludgerkerkje stands beside Museum Smedekinck in Zelhem. It is a reconstruction designed to be as faithful as possible to the original chapel, which was built on the site of today’s Lambertikerk. The Coopsmolen / Nieuwe Molen in Zelhem belongs to a different historical period: it was built in 1818 and dismantled in 1939. Zelhem is therefore home to different forms of cultural heritage: a church with a documented building history, a reconstructed chapel and surviving records of a mill.

Walking Trails in the Village and Countryside

The Tegelroute Zelhem is about 1.5 kilometres long and follows pavements past historic sites in the village. Along the route are 17 large granite photo panels, each measuring 50 × 50 centimetres. Laser-engraved photos and short descriptions take visitors back in time. The route is accessible to wheelchairs and mobility scooters, combining a walk through Zelhem with brief insights into local history.

North of Zelhem lies the natural area of 't Zand, which covers about 230 hectares and consists mainly of coniferous forest. The Het Zandroute runs from Zelhem through the wooded estate of 't Zand towards Ruurlo. It follows tree-lined avenues and forest paths before the wooded surroundings give way to a varied agricultural landscape with extensive meadows. The Klaapsinkroute offers a different focus: it leads through the Zelhem countryside past bodies of water, ditches, meadows, fields and woodland. The descriptions therefore highlight specific differences: the Het Zandroute emphasises the transition from forest to meadows, while the Klaapsinkroute focuses on the variety of landscape features along the way.

The Langenberg can also be explored via different trails. The Nordic Walkingroute starts in the village centre and crosses the Langenberg. The Um de Beltroute runs through the Zelhem countryside. The Langenberg is a former landfill site that is now a natural area with walking trails. The Nordic Walkingroute description specifies that it starts in the village centre; the Um de Beltroute is described as running through the Zelhem countryside.

Swimming Pool and Regional Tradition

As of August 2026, Zwembad De Brink offered a 31°C deep pool, a 30.5°C family pool, a whirlpool, a toddlers’ pool and a paddling pool with a large yellow slide. The information about the pools and temperatures gives a specific overview of the swimming facilities.

The Muldersfluite, at Zelhemseweg 44 between Hengelo and Zelhem, is also part of the region’s heritage. Outside Zelhem itself, rye bread is traditionally weighed there on Ascension Day. The location and occasion are clearly specified, without attributing the event to Zelhem itself.

Discover more destinations: Bronckhorst, Wichmond, Steenderen, Baak, Halle, Olburgen, Hengelo, Keijenborg.

Back to the main travel overview: Bronckhorst.