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The Netherlands🇳🇱 | hikesMaarten van RossumpadLong-distance stages, Steenwijk ramparts, country estates, Venlo finish | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Maarten van Rossumpad
👍 Recommendedhike ranked #7
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

Maarten van Rossumpad is a long-distance walking route of roughly 300 to 350 km, so it is not a day hike, and the Steenwijk start point is only the first of many stages. It begins in Steenwijk in the northwest of Overijssel, close to the Drenthe border, and heads south toward Venlo in Limburg. The pattern is clear. Early stages cross wet, flat farmland and heath, and the middle brings forest and sandier ground, which means quiet trails and plenty of villages for food. The downsides are road crossings, some paved stretches and few dramatic views. Steenwijk has a train station, so reaching the start is easy, while stages deeper in the countryside rely on local buses. Compared with the Pieterpad, it is less crowded and less polished. I expected sheep fields and found a fortified town center with star-shaped moats, where I ate warm apple pie on the ramparts.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #7 hike in The NetherlandsReasons people choose to hike the here

Backpackers choose this route because it is the quiet alternative to the better-known Pieterpad. You walk from Steenwijk to Venlo through changing landscapes without competing for beds or trail space. Nearly every stage ends at a village with a train or bus connection, so you can walk a weekend, a week or the whole 300-plus km and step off whenever your knees or schedule demand it. The route is also named for the 16th-century Gelderland commander Maarten van Rossum, and it passes castles, fortifications and old battlefield country that give the walking a story. Costs stay modest because you can use cafes, small hotels, B&Bs and the occasional campsite along the way. It fits neatly into a longer Benelux trip, since you finish in Venlo, minutes from the German border and onward trains to Düsseldorf.

💡 HighlightsMust-see experiences and standout moments

  1. Steenwijk fortifications: The starting town keeps its star-shaped moat and ramparts, so you begin the route walking along 17th-century defenses before the first field.
  2. Weerribben-Wieden edge: Just west of the start lies a National Park of reed beds, canals and peat-dug ponds, where you may spot otters, bitterns and marsh harriers if you detour for a morning.
  3. Heath and forest sections: Mid-route stages cross sandy heath and pine woods, where the surface softens underfoot and the long horizons make a change from polder walking.
  4. Castles and country estates: Several stages pass historic manor houses and estates tied to the region’s warring past, ideal for coffee stops and photographs of moats.
  5. Venlo finish: The old Limburg town on the Maas has a compact, walkable center, a market square and a train
… read more 👉
  1. Steenwijk fortifications: The starting town keeps its star-shaped moat and ramparts, so you begin the route walking along 17th-century defenses before the first field.
  2. Weerribben-Wieden edge: Just west of the start lies a National Park of reed beds, canals and peat-dug ponds, where you may spot otters, bitterns and marsh harriers if you detour for a morning.
  3. Heath and forest sections: Mid-route stages cross sandy heath and pine woods, where the surface softens underfoot and the long horizons make a change from polder walking.
  4. Castles and country estates: Several stages pass historic manor houses and estates tied to the region’s warring past, ideal for coffee stops and photographs of moats.
  5. Venlo finish: The old Limburg town on the Maas has a compact, walkable center, a market square and a train to Germany, so the last night comes with a proper meal and easy onward travel.
Most visitors skip the Weerribben-Wieden edge near the start, but a few extra kilometers there give the best wildlife chances of the whole route.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

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🌤️ When to go?Seasonal considerations and timing

  • Spring (April to May): The best window, with 8 to 18°C (46 to 64°F), long days of 14 to 16 hours, and fresh green on the Drenthe and Overijssel heath and forest edges. Ticks wake up, so wear long trousers.
  • Summer (June to August): Highs of 18 to 24°C (64 to 75°F), light until about 10 pm. Expect more day walkers near Steenwijk and the Weerribben, plus higher prices for lodging and campsites.
  • Autumn (September to October): Cool at 8 to 16°C (46 to 61°F), with golden beech and oak and quieter paths. Days shrink to 10 to 12 hours.
  • Winter (November to March): Near 0 to 6°C (32 to 43°F), only 8 hours of light, and soggy, muddy stretches. Lodging is cheapest and trails are empty.
Book weekday stays in May or September for mild weather and lower rates.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: below average for travelingFEBFebruary: below average for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: highly recommended for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: below average for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to stay in The Netherlands

If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, consider choosing hostels with high ratings for atmosphere. On the other hand, if you prefer having your own space, a hotel might be a better option.

Best hostels in The Netherlands


Best quality hotels in The Netherlands

🥾 Hike detailsKey facts about the Maarten van Rossumpad hike

Total Distance: Roughly 300 to 350 km from Steenwijk to Venlo, usually split into about 15 to 18 day stages.
Estimated Duration: 2.5 to 3 weeks at a steady pace, or in weekend sections of 20 to 25 km a day.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate. There is almost no climbing, but cumulative distance, hard surfaces and long days wear on feet.
Starting Point: Steenwijk. The railway station links by train with Zwolle and onward Dutch cities, and the center is a short walk away.
Major Landmarks:
  • Steenwijk ramparts: Old moat and fortified town center at the start.
  • Estates and castles: Manor houses and historic defenses
… read more 👉
Total Distance: Roughly 300 to 350 km from Steenwijk to Venlo, usually split into about 15 to 18 day stages.
Estimated Duration: 2.5 to 3 weeks at a steady pace, or in weekend sections of 20 to 25 km a day.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate. There is almost no climbing, but cumulative distance, hard surfaces and long days wear on feet.
Starting Point: Steenwijk. The railway station links by train with Zwolle and onward Dutch cities, and the center is a short walk away.
Major Landmarks:
  • Steenwijk ramparts: Old moat and fortified town center at the start.
  • Estates and castles: Manor houses and historic defenses along the middle stages.
  • Venlo: The Maas-side finish with a historic center.
Terrain and Scenery: Flat polder, canals and farm lanes in the north, then sandy forest tracks, heath and river landscape toward the south. Expect a mix of unpaved paths, cycle paths and quiet roads.
Vegetation: Reed beds, pasture, pine and mixed woodland, and purple heather where heath survives.
Wildlife: Roe deer, waterbirds, marsh harriers, buzzards and, in wetter areas, otters. Ticks are common in long grass, so check yourself in the evening.
Navigation: The route is marked with the standard red and white long-distance trail signs, and Wandelnet publishes a guidebook and GPS tracks.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetyScams, Hazards, and Annoyances

This is a low-risk walk on marked, mostly flat paths, so the main issues are mud, ticks and weather. After rain, sandy and peaty tracks turn boggy and clay or forest paths get slick, so waterproof boots with decent tread matter more than anything else. Wind and rain roll in off open farmland quickly, even in summer, and there is little shelter between villages, so carry a rain jacket and a layer. Check yourself for ticks each evening from spring through autumn, and use repellent or tuck trousers into socks. Cows and sheep graze some stretches, so close gates behind you and give animals space. Deer and wild boar are rare to meet and will usually leave first. Download the route offline, since signposting can thin out at junctions, and plan food and water around villages. Mobile coverage is reliable and emergency number 112 works everywhere.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Most walkers need 15 to 18 days to cover the full 300 to 350 km from Steenwijk to Venlo at 20 to 25 km a day. A weekend section of two stages takes around 6 to 8 hours of walking each. You can split the route at any town with a train or bus stop.
Easy to moderate, because the Netherlands terrain is almost flat and trails are well marked. The challenge is distance and hard surfaces, which cause blisters and sore feet by day five or six. Daily stages of 18 to 25 km are comfortable for most fit walkers with a light pack.
No guide and no permit are needed, since the route follows public paths and quiet roads marked with red and white signs. A Wandelnet guidebook or GPS track costs roughly 20 to 30 euros and helps with navigation and accommodation planning. Camping is only allowed on official sites, usually 15 to 30 euros per night, so book ahead in summer.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Dutch hikes near Maarten van Rossumpad

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We 💚 feedbackSumming up the experience

The mistake to avoid is treating it like a quick scenic loop. It is a long, gentle, slightly plain route that rewards patience, not drama. Book your beds early in sparse villages, accept that some days are mostly paths beside roads, and walk it in sections if time is short. Do that, and it is one of the calmest ways to cross the country.

✈️ When did I visit The Netherlands?
Netherlands is my home base, so whenever I don’t travel, you can find me in this tiny spot on the globe. When friends from abroad visit me, it’s the time to actually explore my own country as a traveler.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in The Netherlands, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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