Discover Uelsen: History, trails and buildings

There are various ways to discover local history in Uelsen: on a cultural and historical trail, at notable buildings and in exhibitions. There are also trails through the municipality and leisure activities at the forest swimming pool. This mix makes Uelsen an appealing destination for travellers who like to give their days different themes.

History on trails and at historic buildings

The Uelser Quellen History Park (GUQ) is a signposted cultural and historical trail linking sites of historical significance. You can explore it independently all year round. The stops give local history its own setting and make the park a way to explore the past at your own pace.

The Uelsen windmill also tells the story of architecture and technology. It is a ground-level Dutch smock mill with a tailpole and canvas sails, and is considered a technical monument. It was restored between 1956 and 2000. Different architectural styles meet at the Evangelical Reformed Church, Uelsen’s oldest building: the lower part of the tower is Romanesque, while the nave and west portal are Gothic. The contrast is tangible in a single building.

The Old Town Hall is generally dated to 1649. It houses a small exhibition featuring prehistoric finds and a copy of the Golden Beaker; exhibitions and chamber concerts are also held there. This adds another cultural focus to your travel plans alongside the trail and historic buildings.

Trails through Uelsen

The Rund um Uelsen trail follows very well-maintained paths through the town centre and the municipality’s northern and southern outskirts. From Bookesch, you can enjoy views towards the town centre and Uelser Holt. This particularly scenic section of the route features gentle hills and shelters where you can rest. You can choose to focus on views of the town or a walk through the countryside.

Leisure activities at the forest swimming pool

The Uelsen forest swimming pool combines an indoor pool and an outdoor pool in Uelsen’s holiday area. The indoor pool has a 75-metre-long winding slide and a toddler area. The mini-golf course, with several holes, is right next to the pool. If you are travelling with young children, you can include the toddler area as a practical option in your day’s plans; mini-golf offers another leisure activity right by the pool.

In the wider Grafschaft Bentheim destination

Beyond Uelsen, Grafschaft Bentheim offers a variety of landscapes: heathland, raised and lowland bogs, wooded ridges and the Vechte valley. This includes Itterbecker Heide, a nature reserve covering around 85 hectares. It is one of the largest contiguous sandy heathland areas in southwestern Lower Saxony and is characterised by dunes and shrub-covered moraines. This regional landscape context complements the trails and historic themes you can discover in Uelsen.

Choose accommodation to suit your travel interests

When looking for accommodation in Uelsen, you can start with the themes you want your stay to centre on: the history park and historic buildings, trails through the municipality, or leisure activities at the forest swimming pool. This lets you choose based on the experience you have planned, without every day needing to follow the same pattern.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Getelo, Emlichheim, Laar, Bad Bentheim, Engden, Neuenhaus, Wilsum and Schüttorf.

See the wider travel overview: Grafschaft Bentheim.