{"id":26075,"date":"2026-02-12T10:51:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T09:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?p=26075"},"modified":"2026-02-12T10:51:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T09:51:11","slug":"border-route-teuto-ems-cycling-route-smuggling-routes-germany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/verhalen\/duitsland\/noordrijn-westfalen\/munsterland\/grenzgangerroute-teuto-ems-fietsroute-smokkelpaden-duitsland","title":{"rendered":"Border Crossing Route Teuto-Ems: Cycling Along Old Smuggler Trails Just Across the Border"},"content":{"rendered":"

The German Traffic Administration launched their new campaign this week Embrace. German. Nature<\/strong>, With the Dutch motto #Duitslanddichtbij<\/strong>. The message: sustainable travel, nature in your backyard, and it doesn't have to be far away. The fact that you can get around beautifully by bike in Germany proves it. Border route Teuto-Ems<\/strong>, Which was even put in the spotlight. By the way, don\u2019t be fooled by the word \u2018GrenzGanger\u2019, because the route doesn\u2019t really go across the border. But you do get to pass by some beautiful old smuggling trails. Because that is the theme of this route. Smuggling trails are intertwined with border areas, and although you still have to drive a bit to the actual physical border between the Netherlands and Germany, you can also see the smuggling trails here. What you can expect on this cycling route in the Osnabr\u00fccker and M\u00fcnsterland<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Smokers and salt \u2013 a little bit of history<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The name says it all: borderers. In the 18th century, this area was a patchwork of kingdoms, and salt \u2013 the white gold \u2013 was considerably more expensive on one side of the border than on the other. Merchants traveled through the forests of the Teutoburger Wald to evade taxes. The modern bike route follows those old paths and crosses a historic border 14 times. Smuggler routes usually do well because of the story. This route is exactly the same in that respect. It also splits the Osnabrucker Land and M\u00fcnsterland regions, so you\u2019re driving through both Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What can you expect?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The route is a total of 149 kilometers long and has received no fewer than four ADFC stars. A rating that we don\u2019t really pay much attention to normally, but in this case it gives an indication of the quality of the infrastructure and signage. Although you can get by with the GPX files in this article. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You cycle right through it UNESCO Geopark TERRA.vita<\/strong>, Here, where 300 million years of geological history lie on the surface and the landscape is varied, you will also find the following highlights:<\/p>\n\n\n\n