The Road to Rhede

Cafe De Lanteern

Restaurant | "Crossing the Meuse to Onze Lieve Vrouweplein"

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Just under an hour and a half by road from Brussels is the Dutch city of Maastricht. Asides from the treaty signed there in 1992, I can’t say that I knew much else about Maastricht before our visit but found it to be quite a lovely lunch stop on the way to Germany. The city is spread either side of the Meuse river (or ‘Maas’ river in Dutch). We parked on the east side of the river and walked along Wycker Brugstraat towards the Saint Servatius footbridge. On a sunny autumn afternoon the city was busy and nimble cyclists whipping along the streets as if in a hurry to get their weekend started. We walked the wrong way across the bridge (although luckily no one seemed to mind, or let us off as...Read More

Just under an hour and a half by road from Brussels is the Dutch city of Maastricht. Asides from the treaty signed there in 1992, I can’t say that I knew much else about Maastricht before our visit but found it to be quite a lovely lunch stop on the way to Germany. The city is spread either side of the Meuse river (or ‘Maas’ river in Dutch). We parked on the east side of the river and walked along Wycker Brugstraat towards the Saint Servatius footbridge. On a sunny autumn afternoon the city was busy and nimble cyclists whipping along the streets as if in a hurry to get their weekend started.

We walked the wrong way across the bridge (although luckily no one seemed to mind, or let us off as ignorant tourists), admiring the scintillating river the flowed under the ancient bridge. The current bridge is made of limestone but the Romans originally built one of wood some time around AD50. It was the Roman phrase for ‘crossing the Meuse’ that gave the city its name.

We made our way south down a cobbled street lined with contemporary shops, some housed in quite beautiful, antiquated buildings. We arrived at the small plaza of Onze Lieve Vrouweplein. With the weather being surprisingly kind, café customers were quite happily spilling out onto the square.

We took an outdoor table at the De Lanteern café and eyed up the French onion soup that had just been served at a nearby table. As I looked over the menu I realized that the soup had been delivered to a customer at the café next door and felt rather disappointed that French onion soup was nowhere to be found on the menu we had just received. Rather luckily though the waitress directed our attention to the blackboard. It seemed that French onion soup was the special of the day in the square. We ordered the soup, a round of cappuccinos and some extra baguette, although in hindsight, enough bread came with the soup and this was an unnecessary addition.

The two handled pot of soup arrived with a top layer of cheese and melted cheese spilling over the sides. In fact there was a big emphasis on cheese and there was not as much broth or onion as I usually like but overall, the soup was a welcome and hearty lunch dish on a chilly afternoon. The bread was lovely and fresh although as I said, we had too much of it.

We walked across the square to the curious looking church on the other side. The towering façade of the Onze Lieve Vrouwebasiliek looks more like a fortress than a church. The immense stone wall has two small turrets and few windows, giving the appearance that it was built for defense rather than prayer. The square in front of the church that is now overrun with cafes was once the church’s graveyard. We peaked inside and not surprisingly found it to be very dark inside, although no less impressive. Read Less

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 20, 2025

Cafe De Lanteern
Onze Lieve Vrouweplein 26
Maastricht, Netherlands
043 3214326

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Hotel Deitmer

Hotel | "A Modest, Cosy, Hospitable Hotel"

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From the outside, the Deitmer doesn’t look particularly remarkable. A large, low brick building, it blends into the brick paved streets around it. However the staff and the management at the Deitmer extended a very warm welcome to us, making what could have been a fairly ordinary stay into a more memorable one. We were only there for two nights but found our double bedroom to be warm, spacious and as long as the church bells weren’t ringing, quiet. Even though the hotel is modest in size, the rooms are quite spread out and we had to be sure to take our room key with us in the evening as the reception closes and entry is through a different door. While the décor was stuck in the...Read More

From the outside, the Deitmer doesn’t look particularly remarkable. A large, low brick building, it blends into the brick paved streets around it. However the staff and the management at the Deitmer extended a very warm welcome to us, making what could have been a fairly ordinary stay into a more memorable one.

We were only there for two nights but found our double bedroom to be warm, spacious and as long as the church bells weren’t ringing, quiet. Even though the hotel is modest in size, the rooms are quite spread out and we had to be sure to take our room key with us in the evening as the reception closes and entry is through a different door.

While the décor was stuck in the late 1970s era and the carpet a little worn, our first floor room was bright, clean and airy with comfortable beds made up with new linen and warm duvets. There was a television, large cupboard, a very loud phone and a small but effective hairdryer in the bathroom. The shower was also brilliant, always a plus.

Our room looked out over the car park and across to the Tante Anne restaurant and we had a good view of the church spire. The bells rang out on Saturday (although strangely not Sunday) morning for what seemed like an eternity. Handy if your alarm doesn’t go off though I guess.

Downstairs is the bar and restaurant and a large events room which they hire out. Breakfast is served in the restaurant and is quite varied, with cold cuts of meat, a variety of cheeses, bread, cereal, fruit and plenty of tea, coffee and orange juice. They also have yogurt and jam and will make up a bowl of scrambled eggs if you want.

While we didn’t spend too much time actually in the hotel we found the manager to be very friendly and helpful. Quite a few of the staff didn’t speak English confidently (although yet again, much more than I speak German) but seemed to understand the few questions we had.

As we had been invited to Tante Anne two nights in a row we sadly didn’t have the opportunity to experience the evening menu at Deitmer. The breakfast was definitely very good though and a far sight better than the cardboard food served up in so many medium to large hotels.

I will also say that while the staff didn’t have much in the way to ‘clean’ in our room, we were astonished at the speed they made up the beds. We went down to breakfast around 9am and when we returned about half an hour later, the chambermaid had already done the rounds. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 20, 2025

Hotel Deitmer
Hohe Strasse 8
Rhede, Germany 46414

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Tante Anne

Restaurant | "Portuguese Tapas Surprise in North Germany"

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I think many people would be suspicious of a Mediterranean tapas restaurant in the cold north of Germany but Tante Anne is full of surprises. About ten paces from the Deitmer Hotel we found ourselves in a small, candlelit bar, settled on tall wooden stools. Tante Anne has three main rooms, two are the proper sit down restaurant and the third and perhaps most attractive room is the bar. The bar is cosier and less formal although unfortunately it is the one room out of the three where people can smoke. Germany hasn’t quite caught up with the rest of the sane world when it comes to banning smoking in eateries. The main fare is Spanish and Portuguese and while the sign outside says ‘Tapas’, su...Read More

I think many people would be suspicious of a Mediterranean tapas restaurant in the cold north of Germany but Tante Anne is full of surprises. About ten paces from the Deitmer Hotel we found ourselves in a small, candlelit bar, settled on tall wooden stools. Tante Anne has three main rooms, two are the proper sit down restaurant and the third and perhaps most attractive room is the bar. The bar is cosier and less formal although unfortunately it is the one room out of the three where people can smoke. Germany hasn’t quite caught up with the rest of the sane world when it comes to banning smoking in eateries.

The main fare is Spanish and Portuguese and while the sign outside says ‘Tapas’, substantial main dishes are readily served too. Inside there is a rustic, historic feel with pretty overhead lamps illuminating the beamed ceiling. Tealight candles add a further warm glow.

The seafood came highly recommended so I opted for the dorado with salad, a whole fish grilled with lemon and rosemary. We also ordered some vegetables to share. The fried potatoes they served were excellent and we also enjoyed a platter of mixed vegetables in chili oil. My fish was slightly overcooked I thought but the white flesh was revived with a strong squeeze of the fresh lemon. For dessert they brought a creamy tiramisu. It was quite different to the preparation that I’ve been used to in the past but was good all the same.

On our second night we were back but this time we were part of a large party of about twenty. We were split across the bar room and one of the main dining rooms but the service and the food was equally well prepared.

The started was a mixed tapas plate which included chorizo, Serrano, stuffed olives, grilled aubergine, sun-dried tomatoes, shrimps in a creamy sherry sauce, a couple of pieces of what I think was lamb (it was delicious even if I couldn’t identify it!) It was extremely filling and I would probably recommend sharing it as a starter if you intend to order a main course as well.

That night, the main dish was a large steak in a dark sauce. I’m going to take a guess at it being redcurrant but whatever it was, it worked. The steak was absolutely huge and while it was delicious, was far too big for most people at the table to finish. The same vegetable platters were shared around, as were baskets of soft brown bread with a rather strange garlic mayonnaise accompaniment.

Dessert was an unfortunately not-quite-set crème brulee. It still tasted rather good but needed a little more time in the fridge.

Portuguese red wine and Bitburger beer flowed quite freely that evening and the wine in particular was great with the steak. We also indulged in some after-dinner Schnapps. It is locally made and bears some relation to the traffic lights attached to the side of the building. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 20, 2025

Tante Anne
Hohe Strasse 5
Rhede, Germany 46414
+49 2872-9969561

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A Walk Through Winterswijk Saturday Market

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Thirty minutes north of Rhede is the Dutch town of Winterswijk. The drive north is through pretty, tree-lined roads perfect for the unadventurous cyclist as they are all pancake flat. We parked at one end of the main shopping street, which leads to the market square. It was late on a Saturday morning when we arrived and the townspeople were out in force, increasing in numbers as we got closer to the market. Away from the market the shops aren’t particularly worthy of any special attention. There is a cheese shop that’s worth nosing around but that’s mainly because cheese shopping in the Netherlands is on a whole different level than in the UK. Entire orange wheels were stacked ...Read More

Thirty minutes north of Rhede is the Dutch town of Winterswijk. The drive north is through pretty, tree-lined roads perfect for the unadventurous cyclist as they are all pancake flat.

We parked at one end of the main shopping street, which leads to the market square. It was late on a Saturday morning when we arrived and the townspeople were out in force, increasing in numbers as we got closer to the market.

Away from the market the shops aren’t particularly worthy of any special attention. There is a cheese shop that’s worth nosing around but that’s mainly because cheese shopping in the Netherlands is on a whole different level than in the UK. Entire orange wheels were stacked ceiling high with smaller portions dwarfed by the half and whole wheels that lit up the shop.

As we neared the square, our stroll slowed to a shuffle as we dodged families out for what appeared to be a major weekly event. The market stalls set up around the church sell a myriad of goods: flowers, fruit, vegetables, herbs, cleaning products, paintings, dodgy antiques and a wide selection of fish. The far side of the market is almost completely dedicated to the sale of fish and it is also possible to get some cooked to order for a lunch snack. Calamari, fishcakes that looked like sun-tanned hockey pucks, fries and also bratwurst were all being grilled and sold to the hungry crowds. On the other side of the church was another popular stall selling ‘Berliner Bollen’, a sweet, doughnut like snack filled with cream and other delicious inserts. We bought one with custard cream and black cherry although I would be tempted to get a bag of five next time.

We wandered around the market with our Berliners in hand, enjoying the sights and sounds of the market. Two men operated a hand-cranked organ that they moved up and down the street, evoking a carnival atmosphere. Across the square from them was a small carousel for young children playing obnoxiously loud techno music and as we left the fish aisle, a brass band was striking up a tune. I don’t remember when I was last in a place that had such musical competition in its town centre.

We had a coffee at the Stad Munster Hotel. They occupy a prime place in the market and offer an ideal stopping place for tired shoppers. Unfortunately both the service and coffee here are terrible so while it may be convenient, it is not worth the pain or the money.

We stopped for some bratwurst and some French fries (soaked in ketchup and mayonnaise) and while the trailer that they were served from didn’t look very inspiring, both were very good and I have to admit, the seafood also looked tempting. While Winterswijk is inland, the coast is only about two hours away and the display cases were full with a fascinating variety of fish and shellfish.

I don’t know if the market is open on other days of the week but if it definitely makes a good lunch stop and provides and hour or two of interesting distraction on a Saturday. Read Less

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Wasserburg Anholt Golf Club

Attraction | "Dining on the Green"

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About 20km from Rhede is the rather stunning Anholt Castle. Believed to have been built some time prior to 1169, the castle takes its name from Herr von Sulen en Anholt, a liegeman of the Bishop of Utrecht. The car park straddles the entrance path to the castle and a golf club although they are well separated from one another. We walked to the castle first, admiring the autumn colours reflected in the still waters of the wide moat. We didn’t have time to visit the castle museum but we did poke our noses around the part of the castle that is now an exclusive hotel. We were able to look at the drawing room and the large wine cellar before popping out into the restaurant. We walked out onto the moat-side...Read More

About 20km from Rhede is the rather stunning Anholt Castle. Believed to have been built some time prior to 1169, the castle takes its name from Herr von Sulen en Anholt, a liegeman of the Bishop of Utrecht. The car park straddles the entrance path to the castle and a golf club although they are well separated from one another. We walked to the castle first, admiring the autumn colours reflected in the still waters of the wide moat. We didn’t have time to visit the castle museum but we did poke our noses around the part of the castle that is now an exclusive hotel. We were able to look at the drawing room and the large wine cellar before popping out into the restaurant. We walked out onto the moat-side terrace and enjoyed a rather good cappuccino. Sadly we didn’t have time to wander too far. From what I could tell, it’s possible to walk around the grounds on the other side of the moat and to explore the tree-lined pathways and follow the waterways that extend from the castle moat.

We walked back through the car park to the golf club. This small, modern building is also a popular place for resting or none-players to enjoy drinks or a meal. As we had a long drive ahead, we decided to order a larger lunch than usual. I had the chicken schnitzel with mushroom sauce, paprika potato wedges and a lettuce, cucumber and tomato salad. The schnitzel was very tender and the chips were excellent. I was also impressed with the friendly lady who served us. I (possibly mistakenly) had the notion that golf clubs can be quite snooty places and this one was quite chic and modern but not at all pretentious. In fact, despite appearances, it felt quite informal. The waitress was also kind enough to see that our meals were brought quickly as we were under a bit of pressure to return to Brussels in time for our train back to London.

Diners get a great view of the green of the 18-hole course although there are flat screen TVs inside for those looking for a different view. I got the impression that the food was cheaper at the golf club than at the hotel although I don’t know for sure if this is the case. It was very good quality and definitely seemed like it offered good value for money, especially in such a nice setting. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 20, 2025

Wasserburg Anholt Golf Club
Schloss 3, Isselburg-anholt
Anholt, Germany
02874 / 91 51 20

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