Flamingo Route

Flamingos in Germany - at first glance the name of this eventful cycle tour seems strange, but at the latest in the Zwillbrocker Venn you will understand the naming. Yes, it really does exist in the Münsterland: the northernmost flamingo breeding colony in Europe. The best time for observing these fascinating birds is from March to July, if breeding is successful even into September. They spend the winter on the Ijsselmeer and in the Rhine delta. The more than 50 flamingos in the Zwillbrocker Venn make the cycle tour along the Flamingo Route an extraordinary experience. But the pink birds are not the only highlight. Each of the numerous natural areas along the route has its own special features. Experience the dreamy landscapes of the regions with all their unique facets and enjoy the tranquillity in the untouched nature.

Let yourself be inspired

The extraordinary Jugendburg Gemen in Borken
© Münsterland e.V. / Philipp Fölting
Sheep in the Zwillbrocker Venn
© Münsterland e.V./Maike Wittreck
View of the magnificent Ahaus Castle
© Münsterland e.V. / Philipp Fölting
The historic Burgmannshöfe in Heek
© Münsterland e.V. / Philipp Fölting
Romantic atmosphere at the Pröbstingsee in Borken
© Stadt Borken / Raimund Weber
The pedestrian zone of Ahaus
© Münsterland e.V. / Philipp Fölting

On the trail of the flamingos

The Flamingo Route brings them all together: the most beautiful and impressive natural areas of the German-Dutch border region between Enschede and Borken. On 473 signposted kilometres, you will experience a refreshing, adventurous and at the same time exotic and mysterious tour by bike. Many unique moors and heaths await you, as well as tranquil villages and lively towns with beautiful buildings such as Ahaus Castle and Gemen Castle. The circular tour is a real experience thanks to the incredible variety of natural areas and the numerous sights along the route. Many of the protected areas are home to very special plants and animals. In addition to flamingos, blue moor frogs and rare plants such as the beautiful lung gentian can be found here, for example. We have put together some of the most amazing nature reserves for you here.

The most beautiful nature experiences

1
Zwillbrocker Venn nature reserve
© Münsterland e.V./Vincent Croce
Zwillbrocker Venn

The Zwillbrocker Venn nature reserve is home to the northernmost flamingo colony in the world. The landscape is characterised by wet meadows, moor and heathland landscapes and shallow lakes. A true bird paradise with 60 different bird species and countless other animals and rare plants, such as the beautiful and colourful heath plants.

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2
Animals and plants feel at home here
© Münsterland e.V./Sebastian Lehrke
Haaksberger Veen

With its almost 600 hectares, the Haaksberger Veen (NL) is a very special nature reserve on the Flamingo Route. Moor and heath as far as the eye can see, with many botanical specialities such as the white beak reed, the marsh gentian and the moor lily. The extensive heaths and the unique high moor vegetation are home to about 30 dragonfly species.

3
Heather plants
© Münsterland e.V./Sebastian Lehrke
Buurserzand

The Buurserzand nature reserve (NL) gets its special charm from the splendidly flowering heath landscape with broom and bell heath, the 150-year-old juniper stand as well as the heath heron and the small moors and forests. An enchanting place that has become home to numerous rare creatures and plants through targeted rewetting.

4
Lünten fish ponds
© Münsterland e.V./Sebastian Lehrke
Lünten fish ponds

The originally dammed Heideweiher, which was used for intensive fish farming until 1952, is now a nature reserve covering approximately 100 ha and is located in the western Münsterland near the German-Dutch border. Part of the former moorland and heath landscape has been preserved and is now the habitat of many animal species and rare plants, such as the marsh St. John's wort and the marsh lycopod.

5
Witte Venn
© Münsterland e.V./Jan Gawron
Witte Veen

The Witte-Veen (German: Witte Venn) is a transboundary nature reserve between Haaksbergen (NL) and Ahaus (DE). The nature reserve impresses with its well-preserved wet meadows, bog areas and nutrient-poor still waters. On the German side, a semi-open pasture landscape is being created in the Witte Veen through the targeted use of robust Heck cattle.

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6
Hündfeld Moor
© Münsterland e.V./Sebastian Lehrke
Hündfeld Moor

Thanks to numerous reclamation and nature conservation measures, the moor and heath areas in the Hündfelder Moor have been preserved and today provide a habitat for numerous endangered raised bog plants. The Flamingo Route takes you directly through species-rich wet grassland. For nature conservation reasons, you can only reach the sensitive moor and heathland areas via the Amtsvennroute moor experience trail.

7
Kuhlenvenn
© Münsterland e.V./Kai Marc Pel
Kuhlenvenn

The Kuhlenvenn is a real bird paradise and is home to a rich variety of breeding birds, but the water-rich nature reserve is also used as a resting place by many unusual migratory birds. The 67 hectares of the former moor lie in the headwaters of the Heubach and are characterised by wet meadows and pastures. In the centre of the Kuhlenvenn lies the approximately 10-hectare groundwater lake.

8
Burlo-Vardingholter Venn
© Münsterland e.V./Sebastian Lehrke
Burlo-Vardingholter Venn

Together with the Dutch Wooldse Veen, the 147 ha nature reserve Burlo-Vardingholter Venn forms a cross-border protected area. By rewetting the moorland, the flora and fauna have been able to recover from the damage caused by peat extraction. Today, the wonderful wet heaths and extensive moorland areas provide a habitat for many animals and plants.

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9
Bekendelle

The Bekendelle is the oldest forest in Winterswijk (NL) and exudes a special charm due to the numerous small streams. In the almost 200-year-old forest you have a particularly good chance of seeing rare birds such as the kingfisher or the grey wagtail.

10
Korenburg Veen

The almost 500-hectare Korenburger Veen (NL) was in danger of becoming the largest wooded area in Winterswijk due to scrub encroachment, but through targeted watering measures it was possible to preserve the beautiful moorland. The core of the raised bog is growing again and now provides a suitable habitat for numerous species such as orchids and marsh heartleaf.

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The Flamingo Route at a glance

  • 473 km
  • Circuit
  • easy
  • signposted
  • Multiday tour
  • Nature
  • Ahaus
  • Schöppingen
  • Heek
  • Gronau
  • Enschede
  • Haksbergen
  • Eibergen
  • Groenlo
  • Breedevort
  • Winterwijk
  • Vreden
  • Südlohn
  • Bocholt
  • Rhede
  • Borken
  • Velen
  • Gescher
  • Stadtlohn
  • Legden

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Protect what is important to us

Many natural areas along the Flamingo Route are under special protection. During your visit, please stay on existing paths and respect closed areas. Be considerate of fauna and flora. At many places, information boards provide insight into the natural areas. Leave nothing but footprints and take only photos and unforgettable impressions with you.

Good arrival

Mit der Bahn zur Flamingoroute
© Münsterland e.V. / Philipp Fölting

Let’s work together to preserve what’s good! Travel by train and help protect the climate and the environment. In the Münsterland region, this is often much easier than you might think.

  • If you’re travelling from the Ruhr area, Borken station is the best option. The station is served by trains from Essen and Dorsten
  • Trains from Dortmund and Enschede stop at Ahaus and Gronau stations. 
  • Gronau station is also served by trains from Münster.
Logo Tourenplaner Münsterland
© Münsterland e.V.
The Flamingo Route in the Münsterland Tour Planner

You can find the Flamingo Route and a large number of other cycle tours and sights in the Münsterland tour planner.

Tip: In the Münsterland tour planner, you can plan individual cycle tours according to junctions.

komoot
© komoot
The Flamingo Route at komoot

You can find the Flamingo Route and many other cycle tours on komoot. Simply click on the tour and off you go.

Tip: Follow our profile and never miss a cycle tour again.

Your questions about the Flamingo Route

The flamingo route is integrated into the red and white cycle route signage as an insert sign/pictogram. The insert sign is located directly below the destination signposts. In the Netherlands, the flamingo route is integrated into the green and white cycle route signposting.

The Flamingo Route has a total of 634 metres of elevation gain. Of these, 317 metres are uphill. With its flat terrain, the Flamingos route is an easy cycle route and is very manageable with a normal level of fitness.

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