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Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord
  • Andrew Spink
  • Andrew Spink

Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord

A cycle ride to the incredible Landschaftspark in Duisberg, then home by train. Read more
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  • Trip start
    August 5, 2026
    Andrew SpinkLandschaftspark Duisburg-NordTraveler
    Waal at Nijmegen
    Waal at NijmegenLeaving WageningenView from the bridge of the Nederiijn (upper Rhine)

    Waal

    August 5 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    I had originally planned to follow a route hugging the banks of the Rhine. However, just a couple of days go, it was annouced that two of the ferries that I planned to take were cancelled becuase of low water, due to drought. In Nimegen, as I crossed the Waal, it didn't look so low, but nevertheless, I know that they are running out of water there as well.Read more

  • Andrew SpinkLandschaftspark Duisburg-NordTraveler

    Crossing the border

    August 5 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    My bike was made in Germany, in Hannover, but this was the first time it had been 'back' there. It was also the first time that I had cycled over the Dutch-German border in a long time. I have been to Germany many times, but not often crossed it by bike. Perhaps when we stayed at Bad Bentheim near to the border? I remember when I first moved to Wageningen, noticing that the border was not that far away and thinking that I might cycle over it from time to time, but actually that hasn't happened that much. Perhaps after the success of this trip, that might change in the future?Read more

  • Andrew SpinkLandschaftspark Duisburg-NordTraveler

    Woodland paths

    August 5 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    A good proportion, something like a third, of the route was along gravel paths in the woods. First there was a glorious long path through the Reichswald, then some other smaller woodlands. There was one really steep hill there. It was off-road, and I had a job to stop my bike wheel spinning in the sand when I went into my lowest gear. Fortunately that was only for a hundred metres or so, I was soon at the top. It was all very green and restful and felt like I was in the middle of a holiday instead of just one day off. The trees also sheltered me from the wind. Although there was a lot of tail wind during this ride, it also came at me from the side a lot. More importantly, it kept the sun off me. By the time I got to the landscape park, it was over 30 degrees.Read more

  • Andrew SpinkLandschaftspark Duisburg-NordTraveler

    Water

    August 5 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    I was clearly going to run out of water, despite having brought two big 3/4 litre bottles and a small flask of coffee, so I was pleased to find this small fountain in Sonsbeek. It had odd pig statues around it, but the water tasted good. I forgot to cool my wrists in it though, even though I had been looking forward to doing that. I ate my cheese sandwiches at the start of the appropriately named "Holländische street".Read more

  • Andrew SpinkLandschaftspark Duisburg-NordTraveler

    Jewish graveyard

    August 5 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    At the edge of a patch of woodland, this Jewish graveyard was picturesque and calm, an oasis of rest. History being what it is round here, it does make you wonder if it has always been so calm though.

  • Andrew SpinkLandschaftspark Duisburg-NordTraveler

    Landschaftspark-Duisburg-Nord

    August 5 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    At last, I reached my destination. Would it match the expectations created by Monty Don's enthusiasm? My expectations were exceeded! The old steelworks was incredibly dramatic and astonishingly beautiful. The public was allowed to clamber all over one of the blast furnaces, with metal walkways taking us right to the top. An incredible structure. And then on top of that, a whole other dimension, with a combination of planting of trees and grasses with allowing vegetation to find its own way in, which made for a remarkable symbolism of rewilding. An amazing place!Read more

  • Andrew SpinkLandschaftspark Duisburg-NordTraveler

    Oberhausen

    August 5 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    There were two other bikes in my train compartment (more elsewhere), so my bike fitted by nicely next to them. Then, at the next stop, another bike got on, and that just fitted. Then, two boys with mountain bikes got on. What would happen? No problem, they just stood in the corridor with their bikes, and people walked around them. no one was bothered.Read more

  • Andrew SpinkLandschaftspark Duisburg-NordTraveler

    Change in Emmerich

    August 5 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    The train was supposed to be direct, but it stopped on Emmerich, so we all had to get out and get on another one. Fortunately, I didn't have much luggage, so I could lift it up and down the steps without having to queue for the lift. It was all quite relaxed anyway. This train had more space for bikes, so mine is on its own now.Read more

  • Andrew SpinkLandschaftspark Duisburg-NordTraveler

    Arnhem

    August 5 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Bizzarely, my DB ticket barcode didn't work on the ports to let me out of the station. So I had to hang around there until a NS employee came past who kindly let me out with his card.
    From there it was an hour's cycling to get home, with a stiff westerly head wind. I thought my legs might have stiffended up after sitting in the train for a while, but actually it was no problem.
    When I finally got home, I had cycled 148 km today.    Read more

    Trip end
    August 5, 2026