Liemers

The Liemers is a region in Gelderland, the Netherlands. The region is located between the Dutch-German border and the Rhine, IJssel and Oude IJssel rivers. The region consists of the municipalities of Duiven, Montferland (though not officially), Westervoort and Zevenaar.

Understand
The origin of the name of the Liemers region is debated upon, though it is commonly assumed that its name refers to the borders of the Roman Empire (Limes), which used to be the river Rhine, with the Romans living south of the river, and Germanic groups living north and east of the river.

The region itself consists of five municipalities; Duiven, Montferland, Rijnwaarden, Westervoort and Zevenaar. The first one and last two of which are also the names of the three largest cities found within the region. Aside from these cities, other locations include Lobith, 's-Heerenberg and Didam.

Duiven
Duiven as a region has been part of Prussia and the Netherlands, going back and forth between the two during the first part of the nineteenth century. The municipality has been a part of the Netherlands since 1808, when it was gifted to the country by Prussia. In December of 1813 it was split from Westervoort to create a new municipality that was gifted back to Prussia on the seventeenth of that same month. The Congress of Vienna returned the municipality to the Netherlands on the first of June 1816. Nowadays the city of Duiven isn't much of a tourist-y site with the city functioning more as a regional hub for household-related shopping, with stores such as Makro, IKEA, MediaMarkt and Intratuin.

Montferland
Montferland is a forested and, compared to the rest of the Netherlands, rather hilly. It has been created on the first of January 2005 by merging the provinces of Bergh and Didam. Bergh, which is most likely named after its most prominent castle, used to be the land of the counts of Bergh. Historically it has been influenced largely by the nearby city of Doetinchem, whereas Didam chose to look up to Arnhem and the rest of the Liemers. Bergh is popular amongst off-road cyclists, hikers and horseback riders for its slanted and forested terrain.

Didam, though it may seem unlikely, is far older than 's-Heerenberg (i.e. Bergh). Where the city now lies has once, in roman times, been a Germanic settlement. Near the city several loose roman coins have been found, as well as a fourth century coin treasure. Until early 1606 the municipality was overseen from the Didam Castle (also known as Berghvrede or Meurse Toren) which would have been built around 1100. Most of the castle would have been gone by 1503 after a fire broke out in the castle. Its tower remained standing until 1606. The moat belonging to the now former castle was filled at the end of the nineteenth century. The castle was found back in 2012, though large portions of the terrain are believed to have been damaged by the construction of a 1944 anti-tank trench by the Nazi Germans. The construction of the southern ring road of Didam destroyed much of the archaeological digs that uncovered Iron age, Roman and Medieval remains. Most of the historical city that was Didam has been destroyed on the 10th of August, 1925, when a cyclone, known as the Stormramp van Borculo destroyed a large amount of the city.

Rijnwaarden
Rijnwaarden, named after the river Rhine (Dutch: Rijn) which enters the Netherlands in this municipality. Rijnwaarden has been created in 1985 by merging former municipalities of Herwen en Aerdt and Pannerden. The municipality has close ties to Zevenaar, Duiven and Westervoort. The municipality is due to be merged again with Zevenaar on the first of January 2018, as the municipality considers itself "too small to cooperate, so therefore it sees no other choice than to merge". The municipality is occasionally casually referred to as Het Gelders Eiland (roughly: The Guelders' Island), as it is on all sides surrounded by rivers, including the Rhine, Old Rhine (or Rijnwaarden) and the Pannerdensch Canal. This large amount of water makes that the region is largely agricultural. The "island" makes for a beloved getaway for many Germans.

Westervoort
Westervoort dates back to the middle ages. As its name has been found in a 726 scroll, Westervoort is assumed to be the oldest settlement of the Liemers. The town has been part of the Bergh region until 1735, when the city of Arnhem purchased it. The town, due to its proximity to Arnhem, was considered rather isolated. The only way across was a veer (ferry) until the first bridge, to be used by only trains, was built in 1855. The first bridge for all other traffic was finished in 1901. On the 10th of May, 1940, the first act of war had been made near Westervoort. The bridge, which now had been standing just short of 40 years, was demolished. This meant a start of the Second World War in the Netherlands. Westervoort itself came through the war without major scars, and by the 1980s, the city knew much growth due to sub-urbanisation.

Zevenaar
Zevenaar, together with Duiven, was gifted to the Netherlands in 1808 by Prussia, then returned in 1813 and merged back in after the Congress of Vienna on the first of June, 1816. Zevenaar is mostly a hub for all sorts of traffic. Historically it has been a hub for trains, having multiple lines connecting the Achterhoek with the Netherlands, and the Netherlands with Germany.

By car
The north of the Liemers can be easily visited by car. The highway A12 runs straight through the middle of the region, and the A18 starts in the region. As mentioned above, Duiven, Westervoort and Zevenaar are located directly along the A12. 's-Heerenberg can best be reached by following the A12 into Germany, where it becomes Autobahn 3, and using exit 3 (Emmerich). Instead of heading for Emmerich, you should head away from the city. As soon as you enter the Netherlands again, you will be in 's-Heerenberg. Lobith can be reached via exit 29 or 30 on the A12, from which you will have to use the N336 or N812 respectively to get to Babberich, where you turn onto the N811, which will end in Lobith.

By train
To get into the Liemers by train, first make your way to Arnhem, where you need to take the train heading for Doetinchem and/or Winterswijk. This train can take you to, , , and  in that order. At several of these stations you are able to rent a bike (OV-Fiets) or take a bus to get to your destination.

Get around
As for all of the Netherlands, bikes can be used for short distance travel. For long distances, a (rental) car or bus is advised. The North of the region can also be travelled by train.

Museums

 * Kasteel Huis Bergh (Bergh Castle), see above.

Go next
From the Liemers, especially the west of the region, you will find that connecting to large cities such as Arnhem and Nijmegen is rather easy. Both have good connections between each other for both transport by car as well as public transit.

The north of the Liemers connects well with the Achterhoek, especially the cities of Doesburg and Doetinchem, of which the latter is partially within the Liemers. Other, somewhat more obscure locations to visit here are Bronckhorst, which is worth visiting for its high density of castles or Oost Gelre, with large events such as the Zwarte Cross.

Alternatively, if you've seen enough of the Netherlands, then the cities of Bocholt, Emmerich am Rhein and Kleve are just a hop away. Duisburg can be reached within an hour.