The Baldeneysee is a long, narrow reservoir created by damming the Ruhr river in southern Essen, surrounded by wooded hillsides that give it an almost rural character surprising for a city of Essen's density. Villa Hügel sits above its northern shore; the path around the lake is about 12 kilometres and passes through forest and along the water's edge.
The lake is actively used: rowing, sailing, kayaking, and windsurfing are all common, and there are several beaches and swimming areas accessible in summer. The Strandbar — a small beach bar on the southern shore — is popular with Essen residents on summer evenings. In winter, when the lake freezes (which it does in cold years), it becomes a skating venue of sorts, though the ice is rarely thick enough to be officially sanctioned.