Rijk van Nijmegen and Lower Rhine Heights

The Landscape

The Rijk van Nijmegen is a diverse region where the beauty of Dutch nature is at its finest. Just outside Nijmegen, a hilly landscape unfolds, full of variety: from stately beech avenues to herb-rich fields, from purple heathlands to ancient deciduous forests, and from marshy grasslands full of orchids to rolling moraines with steep slopes. This unique area, part of the cross-border Lower Rhine Heights, is a true paradise for hikers, cyclists, and nature lovers.

The Lower Rhine Heights is an impressive moraine that stretches across the border between the Netherlands and Germany. This ridge was formed during the penultimate Ice Age when advancing glaciers pushed massive amounts of sand and gravel, creating a rolling landscape of hills, valleys, and steep slopes. The hills are rich in history, with everything from medieval farms to prehistoric burial mounds and remnants of railways and military structures. Unique colony and farming settlements are reminders of the Prussian settlement history. The Reichswald, in particular, stands out, with its ancient trees, rare nature, and a tranquil atmosphere full of stories.