Ecolodges 't Lennepserf are located on the border between Gelderland and Overijssel. A place where you can pause for a moment and enjoy all the good nature has to offer in luxury. There are a number of larger holiday homes for groups at 't Lennepserf and you can enjoy a holiday as a couple in the former hay barn, called 'De Bok'. We spent two nights in De Bok and I would like to take you back to this lovely holiday home in Gelderland.

From farm to holiday homes

After three generations of farmers, father Herbert and daughter Merle decided to change course: the farm was completely renovated and since 2020 there have been no cows but holidaymakers on the site. Their mission is to let people enjoy the peace and space of the countryside. They know all too well how good life in nature is and they want to convey this message to their guests. Everywhere on the property and in the holiday homes you feel that you are on a farm, but in a very luxurious one. Herbert and Merle attach great importance to sustainable and self-sufficient living and combine this in the holiday homes with lots of comfort, beautiful things and luxury products.

Check in at 't Lennepserf

There are six large farm lodges on the grounds of 't Lennepserf and one smaller one. That is De Bok, the former haystack where we stay for two nights. We drive from Tilburg to Veessen and the closer we get, the more the crowds and industry make way for meadows and small roads. It is clear that we are really driving to a rural part of the Netherlands!

't Lennepserf itself is impossible to miss: it is signposted very large on the gate and we drive straight to the parking lot. By the time we have unloaded our belongings, owner Merle approaches us, waving cheerfully. A warm welcome! She takes us to De Bok and explains what life is like at 't Lennepserf. This can easily be summarized as freedom, sustainability and lots of enjoyment. A place close to my heart.

Settling in De Bok

As soon as we enter the holiday home, there are a lot of 'oh's and ah's: what an atmospheric place! De Bok is small, but practically furnished and fully equipped. It is really a place for couples as you do not have the privacy of a closed bathroom. In the kitchen you will find everything you need to make a delicious meal and in the refrigerator there is a bottle of wine and some specialty beers from the region ready for us. Here too it is striking that everything is focused on sustainability. All waste is separated, the shower gel and shampoo are organic and the toilet is water-saving.

After we have settled in, we have a drink at the bar on our own roof terrace. From here you have a beautiful view over 't Lennepserf and you can see the sun setting in the meadows.

Private wellness

One of the things that make 't Lennepserf so wonderful is the private wellness. Each house can sign up for a 1.5-hour time slot for wellness every day. This means you can be sure that it will only be used by your group. Very nice! When checking in, Merle asks us if we want to use the wellness that day and we immediately reserve the last time slot from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM.

The wellness consists of a shower room with four showers, a sauna, an infrared cabin, a steam bath and a number of foot baths. Really everything you can expect at a spa. You can heat the sauna as hot as you want, something that makes my boyfriend especially happy. He often finds the Dutch saunas not warm enough and so heats them up. If we really can't stand it anymore, we can cool off on the terrace with sunbeds adjacent to the sauna. I think it's really cool that it really feels like we're in a spa and not in a sauna at a holiday home.

In addition to the wellness, a silo on the grounds of 't Lennepserf has also been converted into an outdoor shower. I was lucky that the sun shone wonderfully during our stay and so of course I had to try this one out. I can tell you that it was wonderful: the water from such a silo is surprisingly warm.

Straight from the vegetable garden

As mentioned, life at 't Lennepserf is as self-sufficient as possible. As a guest you can make unlimited use of everything that can be picked in the vegetable garden and the orchard. For clarity, they place a sign next to the vegetables and herbs that are ready to pick. So handy! I must admit that we have not cooked with products from the garden. On the recommendation of Merle and her wife Katja, we went out for dinner at Brasserie Floor. The second evening we had such a nice drink that we didn't get to cook anything anymore, oops!

Things to do near 't Lennepserf

The ecolodges of 't Lennepserf are perfect for this stay-in-vacation. You can easily spend a weekend here without leaving the grounds. If you are staying longer or would like to see more of the area, then you should not miss the places below.

Crossing with the Cossack ferry

The accommodation is located just outside the sleepy village of Veessen. There is little to do here and if you are at 't Lennepserf on Sundays and Mondays, you should keep in mind that the shops in Veessen are closed. Still, I recommend that you walk to the village. In the Kozakhaven you can take the Cossack ferry for €1 that will take you to Duursche Waarden, the nature reserve on the other side. I thought the ferry itself was quite an experience. In the harbor there is a pole with a red button on it. You press this and the ferry will pick you up within 15 minutes. Very funny done.

De Duursche Waarden nature reserve

You can cross the IJssel in about 10 minutes while crossing the border between Gelderland and Overijssel. On the other side you are in the Duursche Waarden nature reserve. The lookout tower is especially fun to climb. With a bit of luck there will be a stork in the nest and you will see wild ponies walking around. You can also walk around here and if you have brought bicycles with you, you can also cycle through the area.

Kayaking with Rees Outdoor Fit

Merle asked us if we would like to explore the landscape by kayak. Of course we had this! And so at the beginning of the afternoon we went to Wapenveld where someone from Rees Outdoor Fit was waiting for us with a kayak. We were given a very clear route of 5.5 kilometers and we were ready to go.

The trip was really cool. We paddled the first part over wider water along the meadows. Halfway through we pulled the kayak onto land and lifted it back into the water on the other side of the road. We set course for our starting point via a narrow ditch. I especially liked this part: it's so funny when you suddenly see a few cows standing on the side above you! In total this tour takes about 2 hours. If you want, you can also make longer kayak routes that also take you through beaver territory. You book a kayak on the Rees Outdoor Fit site.

Renderkcliff nature reserve

The Renderklippen nature reserve is about a 15-minute drive from 't Lennepserf. We were at 't Lennepserf in August and the heather of the Renderklippen was in full bloom. What a beautiful sight. If you are here in August or September, you should not miss this nature reserve. It is wonderful to just take a walk or sit on a bench and enjoy the purple sea.

Book 't Lennepserf

Would you also like to enjoy a wonderfully relaxing holiday or weekend away at 't Lennepserf? Please look here for more information and to book accommodation. Tip: the large holiday homes are perfect for a weekend with friends for groups of up to 8 people.

You can make a stay at ecolodges 't Lennepserf as versatile and active as you want. Enjoy the wonderful wellness, the tasty products from the picking garden and the outdoor shower. If you feel like it, go out and discover the natural beauty in the area. It will be fun anyway!

I visited 't Lennepserf by invitation.