The Peddlers Path

LAW3
From Okkenbroek to Deventer

September 2025

Heading to Okkenbroek Again

The next morning, after a delicious breakfast, we set off early again. We walked to Deventer Station, where the RRR neighborhood bus was already waiting for us. A large group of students was also present, but fortunately, they boarded a different bus. Relieved, since we knew we could simply board; yesterday, the driver had stopped letting people on once the bus was full. When the driver arrived, we were the only two boarding, and remained the only passengers for the ride, and were safely dropped off at the church stop in Okkenbroek.

I took a few photos of the church, the farm, and the information board. People have been living in Okkenbroek since the start of the Common Era; the hamlet of Oekenbroeck was first mentioned in 1394 in the Oversticht feudal records. The church, built in 1904, is now a national monument and underwent a complete restoration from top to bottom in 2002.

Across the IJssel Landscape

With renewed energy, we started our Garmin watch and began our hike. We soon found ourselves in open meadows. We wandered through farmland, along paved roads, and across grassy and sandy paths. Horses nibbled happily on fresh hay, while cows grazed peacefully in the lush, green pastures.

Walking through the IJssel landscape, we crossed the Oostermaet estate, with its broad sandy lanes and beautiful tree-lined avenues. We decided to skip a stop at Restaurant De Braskoer in Lettele; our lavish hotel breakfast was still keeping us satisfied.

Along the Church Path to the Overijssel Canal

We left Lettele via a “church path,” a small trail through the meadows. Traditionally, these paths connected homes in the countryside with the village church. Most church paths disappeared over time, either claimed by landowners or lost due to land mergers and subsequent changes.

The grass on the path was still wet after yesterday’s rain, so our shoes quickly became soaked. We followed the Soestwetering for a while, and near a striking oak tree, we crossed the water, leaving the church path. From here to the Overijssel Canal, we passed charming old houses and farms and walked through beautiful tree-lined avenues again.

The Overijssel Canal, constructed in the mid-19th century for shipping and peat transportation, failed to achieve overall success, eventually being overshadowed by the newer railway and the broader Twente Canal. Since 1988, it has played a role in regional water management.

The Final Stretch through Estates and Parks

Passing through the estates of De Kranenkamp and De Hoek, we walked along the Looijersdijk into Deventer. Through Het Nieuwe Plantsoen, an unnamed green corridor along the railway, and the Rijsterborgher Park, we made our way to Deventer Station to catch our train home.

I was thankful to finally sit down, as my legs were fatigued after two consecutive days of over 50 kilometers. However, I wouldn’t have missed this long-distance hiking two-day trip for anything.