Venner Moor

"O, schaurig ist's, übers Moor zu gehn," wrote author Annette von Drüste-Hülshoff. The nature reserve "Venner Moor" in the municipality of Senden is not at all spooky, but breathtaking and mystical. With its fascinating flora and fauna, it is known far beyond the boundaries of the municipality.

Time out from everyday life

Take a relaxing walk through a piece of Münsterland that is more than 6,000 years old and almost disappeared. Two circular paths lead from the "Venner Moor" car park through the nature reserve. Especially in fog or frost, the moor unfolds its mysterious beauty. But don't forget: Please stay on the marked paths and always keep dogs on a lead.

Guided tour of the moor

The Venner Moor is managed by the Münsterland Regional Forestry Office and the Kreis Coesfeld e.V. Nature Conservation Centre. Every year, the nature conservation centre organises a series of events in the moor. The guided tours led by various experts provide unexpected insights into the world of the animals, plants and fungi native to the area as well as into the history of its development. You can find the dates on the website of the nature conservation centre.

Let yourself be inspired

Walkers and hikers are welcome here.
© Münsterland e.V./Long Nong Huang
Today, the Venner Moor is characterised by birch forests with pine trees.
© Münsterland e.V./Vincent Croce
The Venner Moor offers many beautiful photo motifs
© Münsterland e.V./Sebastian Lehrke
Water is the dominant element in the Venner Moor
© Münsterland e.V./Sebastian Lehrke
Here you will also find typical heath plants
© Münsterland e.V./Marcel Lesch
In 1990, the Venner Moor was declared a nature reserve
© Münsterland e.V./Moritz Nolte

Thousands of years of moorland history

The history of the "Venner Moor" began thousands of years ago. For a long time, mighty peat deposits shaped the image of the raised bog. Drainage and peat cutting led to the disappearance of the growing moor, especially in the last 150 years. Today, the Venner Moor covers only half of its former size with about 149 hectares. The mighty peat layers have disappeared. But at least some heath-typical plants and animals have kept their home here. Surrounded by birch forests, a moorland forest has survived around areas of water and bog.

Fortunately, in recent decades there has been a growing awareness that the moor is a special and important habitat. Through rewetting, the bog is slowly approaching its original state.

The occurrence of the nationally endangered adder is also spectacular. Although it is the only poisonous snake found in this country, it is more harmless than its reputation and very shy.

Video | Venner Moor

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Map | Venner Moor

Service & Offers

  • Outdoor
  • Admission free / free of charge
  • Spring
  • Autumn
  • Dogs allowed
  • Moor
  • Summer
  • Forest
  • Winter

Protecting what matters to us

Venner Moor

The Venner Moor is a sensitive natural area that reacts strongly to disturbances. Please stay on the marked paths. Walking on the firm paths allows the vibrations to warn of your presence, so that shy animals can flee.  
Please keep your dog on a lead, do not leave any litter behind and do not feed wild animals. Barbecuing, open fires and smoking are prohibited in the moor. During dry spells, there is a particularly high risk of fire in the moor. The Venner Moor will reward you with many wonderful moments.

Tip: It’s best to leave your bike at the edge of the Venner Moor and explore the nature reserve on foot. Cycling is not permitted in the Venner Moor.

Places of interest around the Venner Moor

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Cycle routes on the Venner Moor

The Münsterlandblog

Rhododendrons
© Münsterland e.V.
We were on site and explored the Venner Moor for you

Why is a trip to the Venner Moor so worthwhile? Our colleague Victoria Lennerz was out and about here and wrote down her experiences. You can read her stories on the MünsterlandBlog! She also has some insider tips and excursion destinations near the moor for you...

Learn more

Travelling to Venner Moor by bus and train

Mit Bus und Bahn ins Venner Moor
© Münsterland e.V./Philipp Fölting

Let’s work together to preserve what’s good! Use buses and trains for your journey and help protect the climate and the environment. In the Münsterland region, this is often much easier than you might think.

  • Senden-Bösensell railway station is located about 10 km from the Venner Moor.
  • Trains from Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Münster and Recklinghausen stop at Senden-Bösensell station.
  • From Senden-Bösensell station, buses run towards Ottmarsbocholt. There, you’ll need to change to the R42 bus route.
  • At Venner Moor, the bus stops are ‘Venne Kirche’ and ‘Venner Moor’.

Your questions about the Venner Moor

There are two signposted circular walking trails in the Venner Moor. The shorter circular trail is 2.7 km long and marked in red. The longer circular trail is 4.7 km long and marked in blue. Both trails start at the “Venner Moor” car park.

The ‘Venner Moor’ hotel and restaurant is situated right on the eastern edge of the Venner Moor.

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