Den Ham, Lemele, Ommen

Mountains in the Netherlands? Yes, indeed, in Salland! This cycle route takes you past no fewer than three mountains: the Lemelerberg, Archemerberg and Besthmenerberg. Prepare to be amazed by the breathtaking views over the Vechtdal, the Regge and the Salland landscape.

There is a legend about the last two mountains. It is said that there once was a giant from Germany who wanted to fill the Zuiderzee with sand. Along the way, the bag tore open and a large mountain of sand was lost with every step. They did not succeed in damming the Zuiderzee, but the fallen sand did leave these mountains behind...

Yet there is evidence that the mountains were formed by land thrusting during the ice ages. The Archemerberg and Besthmenerberg were originally one large mountain. When the Regge river managed to break through the moraine, the mountains were separated. The area around the mountains is mainly hiking country, so park your bike in the valley and continue your adventure on foot.

If you climb the 34-metre-high Besthmenerberg, you will find a lookout tower at the top. You can even see over the treetops from there! If you are on top of the Archemerberg, you are at a height of 78 metres. On a clear day you can see all the way from Zwolle to across the German border! Don't worry, even on cloudy days you can enjoy the fantastic heathland and forests and see the many villages and towns in the area. It is well worth the walk!

The Lemelerberg is closer to the cycle path. This moraine was formed during the ice age some 150,000 years ago. Glaciers pushed sand and gravel in front of them, eventually leaving a mountain 78 metres high in its place. The area has always been and remained an unspoilt nature reserve. In the past, because the soil was too dry and too nutrient-poor for farmers to grow their crops on. They did let their sheep graze there, creating a huge heathland. The overgrazing of the heath led to the creation of sand plains. The drifting sand in turn had to be reined in, for which coniferous trees were planted.

Today it is a protected nature reserve managed by Landschap Overijssel. As a result, we can still enjoy the varied landscape on and around these Sallandse mountains: sand drifts, heaths, forests and the mysterious-looking juniper bushes.