Treasury of Twente and County of Bentheim

The Landscape

The Treasury of Twente refers to the southeastern part of Twente, around towns like Losser, De Lutte, and Overdinkel. This region lives up to its name: here you’ll find a unique blend of nature, culture, and history in a landscape that has largely preserved its centuries-old character. The Twente landscape flows almost seamlessly into that of Lower Saxony in Germany. Amid gently rolling terrain, scattered old farmsteads are surrounded by meadows, fields, hedgerows, and small woodlands. Here and there, heathlands and flower-rich hay meadows within the forests add a pleasant variety. One notable feature is the River Dinkel, whose winding course and steep banks form a rugged natural boundary between the low-lying, wet grasslands and the higher sandy grounds.

Just across the border lies the charming County of Bentheim, also known as the "Holland of Lower Saxony." Here, the western edge of the Teutoburg Forest ends in the medieval spa town of Bad Bentheim. Towering above the town is the impressive Bentheim Castle, one of the largest hilltop castles in Lower Saxony, built from sturdy sandstone. At the foot of the castle lies the Bentheimer Wald, a peaceful, green forest area with mineral-rich springs and quiet trails. And if you cycle a little further, you’ll reach one of the most remarkable wetland landscapes in Northwest Germany: the Gildehauser Venn. This vast nature reserve offers wide views, wet heathlands, swampy woods, reed beds, and peat pools that provide a home for many birds.