Migration birds trail: from Loenen to Brummen – ⭐⭐⭐

During my summer holiday (in 2025), it is time for the next part of the Migration birds trail from Loenen to Brummen in the Netherlands. Along the way, I will pass through the town of Eerbeek and various estates, such as Huis te Eerbeek, Leusveld and Engelenburg.

Between Loenen and Eerbeek

From the Centrum bus stop, I walk to the outskirts of Loenen; on the way, I come across a small church. At first, I walk along tree-lined avenues, but I’m soon out in the countryside.

In the tree next to me, I hear a high-pitched chirp and see that it’s a nuthatch. It even stays still long enough for me to take a photo.

I pass the tracks of the steam train that runs between Apeldoorn and Dieren during the summer months. I can still remember this train from my childhood. As a child, I took a trip on it from Beekbergen to Apeldoorn with my parents and my friend.

Other trail guide about this region

After passing the train track, I’m getting closer to Eerbeek. The only thing I can remember from my childhood from Eerbeek is the Toy Museum, but I don’t pass it on my way.

Between Eerbeek and Hall

In Eerbeek, I come across the starting point of a Wooden shoes trail: the Eertbeeck Stream trail. A fitting name for this Wooden shoes trail (stream means ‘beek’ in Dutch).

I walk out of Eerbeek and arrive at the Eerbeek Residence estate. The trail is finally getting a bit more interesting. I walk along a narrow path beside the pond, with Eerbeek Residence on the other side.

To be honest, I can’t remember much about the birds I came across along this hike. I keep a checklist for each section of this trail, so I know which birds I’ve spotted. The common moorhen is one of them.

Common Moorhen
The common moorhen is a black waterbird with white wing tips and white undertail coverts. It also has large yellow legs and a red beak with a yellow tip. This bird is found throughout the Netherlands and loves being near water. You’ll therefore often see them near canals and ponds.

The moorhen nests from March to August and can lay up to three batches a year with 5–9 eggs a time. Young moorhens from earlier nests help to look after the chicks from a later nest.



Source (in Dutch): Vogelbescherming

I cross the Apeldoorn Canal and then it’s the turn of the town of Hall. I pass a little church and, shortly afterwards, I spot the start of another wooden shoes trail: the Hall Church trail. Again, such a logical name 😂.

I walk out of Hall, along wide sandy paths and past beautiful farm houses.

Leusveld and Engelenburg estate

I then pass through the Leusveld nature reserve and the estate of the same name. It’s absolutely beautiful here. I stop for a break on a bench at the edge of the woods to enjoy the view.

A little further on, Leusveld Country house looks absolutely stunning on the other side of a field. Colourful flowers grow along the edge of the field.

Finally, I take a stroll through the Engelenburg estate, with its stately rows of trees and narrow woodland paths, and past the country house of the same name.

Brummen railway station is my final stop for today. Next to the station is the starting point for another wooden shoes trail: the Leuven trail. This region is a real paradise for wooden shoe trails. At this rate, my hiking list is going to get quite long.

Final thoughts

More Migration birds trail hikes under 15 km

After many long sections on the Migration birds trail, this hike was under 15 km. Below are some more enjoyable sections of the Migration birds trail that are less than 15 km long.

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