Gennep, Ottersum, Milsbeek

Follow the picturesque River Niers all the way to its meeting point with the River Meuse, in the far north of Limburg. Centuries ago, West Germanic peoples called the place where these two waterways meet ‘Ganipja’, meaning the confluence of two rivers. Over time, this name evolved into Gennep, a town and municipality that still lies at this very spot.

You first encounter the Niers just west of the German town of Goch. By then, the river has already covered most of its 114-kilometre journey from its source near Erkelenz in Germany. The riverbed the Niers follows northwards was formed around 200,000 years ago during the penultimate Ice Age, when advancing ice pushed the Rhine aside. Only 9 kilometres of the Niers flows through the Netherlands.

In Germany, you cycle through the nature reserve Niersaltarme und Mühlenteiche, a five-hectare area consisting of old river branches and mill ponds. Since 1982, it has been a protected habitat for various amphibians and birds. You then follow the winding Niers to the border village of Ven-Zelderheide. The name of this village reflects its origins: ‘Ven’ refers to wet, marshy land, while ‘Zelderheide’ points to the higher sandy grounds. The village has long been closely connected to the fast-flowing Niers.

Where the Niers meets the Meuse, the remains of ’t Genneperhuis come into view. Once a powerful and virtually impregnable fortress, strategically located between two rivers, it is now an atmospheric ruin where nature is slowly taking over and where you can enjoy beautiful views over the water.