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2020 has been that year, where almost everyone had to cancel their vacation plan due to the pandemic. Some of us had plans to visit mountains or some wanted to just lay down on beautiful, serene beaches!
I always like a combination of active vacation plus some chill out days. So as our vacation stood cancelled, I decided to discover some activities around Düsseldorf which could easily be turned into an amazing day trip.
Canoeing and Kayaking on the Niers River was an absolutely fantastic experience!
While there are a number of amazing nature getaways and holiday locations in Germany like Harz, Lipperland, or Monschau, sometimes a day trip might be all you need!
Where can you rent a canoe and/or kayak?
If you are looking for a relaxing day on the water to enjoy some sun; the areas along the Niers River between Grefrath and Viersen are the best places to enjoy kayak, canoe, or raft tours for a few hours.
There are tours that take place on the Niers River (which is a tributary of the river Meuse) and the area is surrounded by lush green fields, huge trees, and amazing wildlife. The starting point of the tour we went on is in Oedt, Grefrath near the Sportplatz, which is reachable by taxi/car or by bicycle. There are single or double kayaks, canoes for 3 or 4 people, and a big group of friends or family can also rent a raft. You are also allowed to carry little snacks and drinks on the water with you. You neither require prior kayaking experience nor be a pro swimmer. The water is shallow and has very little flow.
If you’re an avid kayaker, you can always make a bigger investment and buy your own kayak or canoe – you can often find them online for 200 – 300 Euros and will be worth it if you’re planning more than a few trips this year.
How to get there? And where to book?
We found out about ‘Kanu und Kajakverleih Goetzen’ and have nothing but great things to say. They offer multiple tours that are all reasonably priced.
We took a bike + kayak combination tour. You can pick up a bicycle at a bicycle rental in the little, beautiful town on Wachtendonk. There is ample parking available near the bicycle rental. They have bikes in all sizes, with an optional basket to carry some stuff that you later want to take with you on the water. They also provide a detailed map of the area. The bike ride up to the starting point of our kayaking trip took around 45 -50 min with very normal speed.
The beautiful bike trail passes through the cornfields, forests, and little canals of water – it’s just serene! There is very little chance that you will go off-road and get lost. Once you arrive in Oedt, you leave your bicycle there and get ready to paddle! Tour organizers carry your bicycle back.
You can also bike to the starting point with your own bicycle and the kayak tour company will carry it back to Wachtendonk. But this should be arranged in advance.
What’s the experience like?
The sound of bustling winds and calmly flowing water is just fabulous. The water is not crystal clear but the vegetation adds up to the great biodiversity. As you start paddling you come across varied flora and fauna. There are ducks, squirrels, birds, and even swans that may swim right along to your canoe – simply amazing!
Just close your eyes and enjoy the sound of nature or have fun with your friends & family while enjoying a chilled drink.
There is a single canal and therefore there is hardly a chance that you will wander away. At the end of the tour, you can easily dock your kayak on the small marina.
You also have the possibility to get down a few meters before the actual endpoint of the tour. If you get down here (just at the lighthouse tower), there is a chance to visit a petting zoo, bouncy castle, corn maze for kids, and a nice picnic area. For details about this check out the Holleshof website (they also offer kayak and canoe rentals too if you’d prefer to start there).
The endpoint of the kayak tour is probably a 10 min walk from the bicycle rental store. So, once you are done, you can enjoy a nice lunch at Altdeutsche Gaststätte Büskens – diagonally opposite to bicycle rental store or go for a delicious ice cream at Eiscafe Jojo which is situated 5 min drive away.
Want to stay in the Wachtendonk area longer?
If you have more time on your hand, I would definitely recommend to just stroll through the town. Besides connecting you to nature and having a fun day out on the water, this entire outing is a great chance to spend a relaxing time with family and friends. If you’d like to spend the night in the area, there are also a number of hotels and bed & breakfasts to choose from.
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