Rolling Tweed tastes like more

“This is enjoyment, what a wonderful route. We want to experience this again,” echoed one tweed-clad participant of the Rolling Tweed. This cycling day took place on Sunday 24 September in the Achterhoek municipality of Bronckhorst. Here lies the Eight Castles Route, the oldest signposted cycling route in the Netherlands. This route exists 110 years this year, giving rise to an old tradition: cycling this route together with the mayor one day a year.

Some more beautifully and colourfully dressed than others. It is a pretty picture on this Sunday morning at the reception area at Vorden Castle. The Rolling Tweed participants have done their best to look their ‘tweed-best’. Even the youngest participant of about 5 years old was dressed in tweed. Mayor Marianne Besselink has also dressed in tweed for the occasion. She cycled in front, together with Peter Meulenbroek, chairman of the local VVV Vorden. Under a bright blue sky and under the watchful eye of several spectators who have come to witness the spectacle, they start their 34-km-long Achtkastelenfietsroute (Eight Castles Cycle Route).

Several participants will have a special bike with them. These range from an old Copenhagen Pedersen to an old-fashioned and regionally made Empo bike. Others ride smoothly on an electric bike. Nevertheless, the group stays together as much as possible and the atmosphere is great.

The cycle route started at Vorden Castle, after which the route led through the green coulisse landscape past the other seven castles. These castles and mansions are mostly privately owned and often still inhabited by the original families. Especially for these cyclists, some estate owners came out to chat with the Tweed cyclists and tell them more about their estates. Some places also stopped for soup, a sandwich, a drink and a chat with each other. The warm autumn sun gave the day extra atmosphere. The day ended in festival atmosphere next to Vorden Castle, with a drink, pleasant chat and atmospheric acoustic music by Bert Heerink and André Becker.

“How much I enjoyed” sighs another participant who has not been to the Achterhoek before, “I think you have taken a first step towards a new tradition,” he adds.

The Rolling Tweed around the Castle event is part of the Tot Slot in Bronckhorst campaign. With this campaign, the municipality is putting Bronckhorst on the map as a region of castles and country estates.