In the Gelderse Poort, you experience the Netherlands at its most dynamic, where water, wind and clay shape a landscape of dikes, side channels and wide floodplains. At the river bifurcation of the Rhine, Waal and Nederrijn, you can see how the river has been given room again, with side channels, floodplain forests and flower-rich grasslands that change with the seasons. Semi-wild cattle and horses keep the vegetation open, while the area is known for its rich birdlife and wide, open views.

Lingewaard feels like a green transition between Arnhem and Nijmegen, with winding dikes, fruit growing and a calm, rural rhythm. In spring, the orchards are filled with blossom, and later in the year the branches hang heavy with fruit, while oxbow lakes, river beaches and patches of floodplain woodland make the presence of water tangible. The region’s history is also visible in the floodplains, where the brick industry long relied on river clay, leaving behind distinctive chimneys and old factory remains as industrial heritage.