Bergherbos, Nature area and forest reserve in Montferland, Netherlands
Bergherbos is a large forest and nature reserve in the Montferland region of the Dutch province of Gelderland. The land covers a mix of pine and mixed woodland, open meadows, and heathland on a hilly terrain that extends across the German border.
From the 14th century, local communities managed this woodland together, regulating how wood was cut and where animals could graze. In the 19th century, the Hohenzollern family planted large numbers of pine trees for timber, and in the early 20th century Jan Herman van Heek bought the estate and began replanting native oaks to restore the forest's natural character.
The main starting point is at 't Peeske, where several marked walking routes begin, with additional access points near the villages of Beek and Stokkum. Sturdy footwear is a good idea, as the paths can be hilly and muddy after rain.
The area sits on a glacial moraine left by the second-to-last ice age, which explains why this corner of the Netherlands is unusually hilly compared to the flat land around it. From Hettenheuvel, the highest point at 93 meters (305 ft), the view reaches well into Germany.
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