Plizio Visual Lab

Duivelsberg

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

Mountain

Weather…

Duivelsberg, located near Berg en Dal close to Nijmegen, is a historically and geologically significant elevation on the Dutch-German border. The hill, standing at approximately 76 meters, is part of the Nijmegen moraine formed during the Saale glaciation. A unique aspect of Duivelsberg is its political history; until 1949, the area was part of Germany and was annexed by the Netherlands after World War II as war reparations. In the Middle Ages, the summit hosted Mergelpe Castle, a motte-and-bailey fortification whose defensive banks and ditches are still visible in the landscape. The area is almost entirely forested, dominated by beech and sweet chestnut trees, providing a hiking experience that feels surprisingly mountainous for the region. Today, it is a protected natural monument and a popular destination known for its panoramic views over the Rhine valley.

Location: Gelderland, Netherlands
Top sights: Holthurnsche Hof · Duivelsberg · Buggy's
Nearby: Nijmegen (6 km)

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	2	3	5	10	13	17	19	18	15	11	6	3
Rain mm	74	60	55	39	59	59	77	80	58	64	68	76

📋 Practical info

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Getting there

The hill is typically reached via hiking trails starting from nearby villages around Nijmegen, with well-marked paths leading directly up the forested slopes of the moraine.

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Best season

The hill can generally be visited throughout the entire year; the dense forest provides a pleasantly cool retreat in summer and beautiful, animated foliage colors during autumn.

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Terrain & paths

The landscape consists of steep, uneven woodland trails typical for this glacial moraine, offering moderate hiking challenges with very noticeable elevation changes throughout.

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What to bring

Good grip walking shoes or hiking boots are typically needed for the steeper forest trails, and layered clothing is strongly recommended to adjust to the changing temperatures.

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Parking

Visitors generally park their vehicles at designated spots near the base of the hill or at official recreational parking areas closer to Nijmegen before starting their hike.

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Safety

The area is generally safe for hiking activities; visitors should usually look out for slippery wet leaves on the descents during autumn and exposed tree roots along the paths.

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Time needed

Exploring the main paths up the hill and taking time to enjoy the sweeping moraine landscape views typically requires about two to three hours of moderate walking activity.

Geography

Coordinates

51.81670, 5.93330

Facts

Duivelsberg has an elevation of approximately 76 meters above sea level.
The territory was officially transferred from Germany to the Netherlands in 1949.
It remains the only piece of land annexed from Germany after WWII that was not returned.
The site features two medieval motte-and-bailey mounds from the 11th century.
The area covers about 125 hectares of ancient deciduous woodland.
The hill offers a famous viewpoint known as the 'Wylermeer' overlook.