The old ferry landing

For centuries, the ferry at Het Veerhuis in Oeffelt was an important connection to Limburg and the town of Gennep.

Already in the 14th century, according to tradition, there was a ferry connection at this place on the Meuse. In the book 'Land van Cuijk, 33 villages and a city' it can be read that the noblemen of Gennep owned the ferry rights. On a Latin document the Middle Dutch word verschip (ferry ship) appears. Maps from the 17th century already show a ferry house on this spot.
The ferry house was then called Bothalen. At that time there was also an island in the Meuse, at the level of the ferry. That sandbar was named "Greend" on an 1851 map.
Much later notary Hermsen, in a document about the leasing of the ferry ferry, talks about "a busy inn". Very pleasantly situated on the Klinkerweg to Oeffelt, opposite Gennep and having a clean view of the railroad bridge there.

The railroad bridge has been there since the opening of the German Railway, in 1878. It took almost another hundred years before there was a fixed bank connection for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. In 1955, that road bridge was opened and then the ferry was quickly done with.

A short distance from this board is also De Oeffelter Meent, a special nature reserve with Natura2000 status.