Spijk: River Landscape and Village History

Spijk lies on the Boven-Rijn, where the river enters the Netherlands from Germany. The village is just beyond the Spijksedijk. The river and the dike provide clear geographical landmarks, while named routes, monuments, and historical dates tell the story of the village's development. Those considering Spijk as a travel destination will find a mix of river landscape, brickmaking history, and local tradition.

Routes and River Landscape

The Spijksedijk is suitable for a walk or bike ride along the Rhine. The Rijnweidepad runs between Spijk and Lobith; the Boven-Rijn lies on one side and the Tengnagelwaard on the other. This gives you two distinct landscape settings to plan around: activities along the Rhine on the Spijksedijk, and the Rijnweidepad between Spijk and Lobith, with the Boven-Rijn and Tengnagelwaard on opposite sides. Around Spijk's overnight harbour, there is a public riverside walking trail with places to sit and picnic tables. Het Uutblaoshuukske, a rest stop for walkers and cyclists, lies along the Pieterpad route. From there, you can enjoy views of the Eltenberg, the surrounding orchards, and a flower meadow. Riverside amenities and rest stops may change; check in advance if they are important to your plans.

Brickmaking Industry and Village History

The brickmaking industry has had a major influence on Spijk since the 19th century. Het Kraantje is an electric wagon-turning crane built in 1928 for the then NV Hollands-Duitse Steenfabriek. Its construction date and original client place this part of the village's industrial history in a specific period. The Steenovenarbeider, a bronze memorial to the workers at Spijk's brickworks, offers another perspective on the brickmaking industry. The two works highlight different aspects: Het Kraantje represents the technical side of the brickworks, while the Steenovenarbeider represents the people who worked there.

The village's history also has specific dates. The Heilige Gerardus Majellakerk was inaugurated on 14 January 1914. Spijk's war memorial commemorates four residents who lost their lives as a result of acts of war and consists of three natural-stone reliefs.

Village Tradition and Art

The Schuttersgilde Spijk was officially founded on 6 September 1898 in honour of Queen Wilhelmina's inauguration. E.M.M. Spijk holds the village's Schuttersfeest on the second Sunday in August each year. The foundation date and the festival date provide two different points of reference: 1898 belongs to the history of the guild, while the recurring August Sunday is part of the village's annual calendar. If you would like to include the festival in your travel plans, check the date for the relevant year in advance.

The site-specific artwork Und so Weiter is located at a rest stop at the end of the Spijksedijk, near boundary marker 660. The monument marks the spot where the Rhine first enters the Netherlands.

Farm on the Edge of the Village

A description from 2025 mentions an expansion of Hof zum Walde on the edge of Spijk to include a farm shop and tea garden. If you are planning a visit, check in advance whether it is possible.

Discover more destinations: Lobith, Tolkamer, Pannerden, Herwen

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