Rural region in the east of the Dutch province Gelderland, bordered in the west by the IJssel river, in the east and southeast by Germany, in the south by the Oude IJssel river and in the north by the region of Twente. The name roughly translates as "backwater". Also known as "de Graafschap", which is also a football club (as in: soccer) from this region, but which strictly taken only applies to the area directly around the city of Zutphen. Characteristic landscape composed of intermixed farmland and small wooded plots.

Home of Grolsch beer (originally brewn in Groenlo) and the rock band Normaal. Inhabitants of de Achterhoek are know by the derogatory name of Boer'n (farmers).