A stone’s throw from the border of the Netherlands and the German city of Cleves, you’ll find Kerken — a place famous for its beautiful Lower Rhine countryside and considered to be a highly cultural recreational area.
There should be no doubt that a town like this would have the standard sightseeing attractions. However, this doesn’t make Kerken ordinary. For you lovers of art history, you’ll most certainly be delighted with a visit to St. Dionysius, the St. Peter and Paul, and St. Thomas Churches. You can explore them on your own or join one of the city guided tours for a nominal fee.
There are other guided tours sponsored by the city of Kerken. One will take you through the 18th century Cemetery Aldekerk with a history of many of the town’s “former” residents. Another takes you through the town’s Local History Museum, but that can just as easily be visited on your own.
For more sightseeing, don’t miss the Haus Lawaczeck (historical association), the 18th century Tower Windmill, and the Michael Buyx House. A guided tour to these sites would certainly be helpful.
Kerken is also a prime place to sit and relax. The Eyller See, or Eyller Lake, has a great sandy beach, rowboats, grill huts (if you get hungry), and plenty of untouched forest with a multitude of walking and bicycling trails. If you’re the camping type, there are plenty of campsites around.
Don’t worry if camping isn’t your style since there are some wonderful small hotels, bed and breakfasts, and even vacations homes to rent for your stay. If you get hungry it won’t be hard to find something to nosh as Kerken has a variety of dining options.
When you find yourself along the Dutch border or close to Cleves make sure you come visit Kerken — a place far from ordinary.
