SURROUNDINGS

The Veluwe is the ideal biking and hiking area. Here you will find dozens of bike and walking routes, seasonal events and various tips for a successful bike ride or hike. Horse riding, water sports and golf are also popular activities. Enjoy being active in the relaxing surroundings of the beautiful Veluwe!

Cycling

Pedalling through the woods and heathlands, you are one with nature as every little detail catches your eye. Take in the carpets of bluebells, follow the roe deer spoor and maybe even catch a glimpse of the elusive black woodpecker among the woodland birds. Marvel at the beautiful gardens of a hidden manor or find yourself eye to eye with a herd of red deer at dawn’s first light. The variety and abundance of natural beauty will enchant you time and again.

Hiking

The Veluwe is a fantastic area for hiking. The ever-changing landscape, the tranquillity and open space, as well as the rich cultural history make walking in the Veluwe an endlessly fascinating experience. Take a guided walk with the Veluwe Rangers across the Kootwijkerzand or join in a Nordicwalking excursion, a more strenuous activity that involves walking with modified ski poles.

Golf

Golf is becoming an increasingly popular sport that fits in perfectly with the scenic surroundings of the Veluwe. Engelenburg Castle’s own golf course provides the perfect opportunity to play a round of golf, however there are also a number ofother beautiful golf courses in the immediate vicinity. Our front office team will gladly assist you with booking a tee-off time at, for example, the Lochemse Golf Club, Scherpenbergh or Golfclub Zelle.

Museums

There are a number of interesting and surprising museums in the Veluwe. No matter how specialised the topic, there seems to be a museum solely dedicated to it. There are museums that specialise in Anton Pieck, castles, modern art, old trades and toys, Van Gogh and war history to name a few. Do you know which museums you wish to visit? We have detailed information about all of the Veluwe’s museums in our extensive information binders and at our front desk.

Het Loo Palace

Since 1984, ‘Paleis Het Loo’ or Het Loo Palace has served as a museum, following spectacular renovations to both the palace and its gardens to see them return to their 17^th-century glory.
 
The baroque garden parterres are abundantly decorated with pergolas, statues and vases. Planted in spring and summer, according to 17^th-century Dutch tradition,they are unique to Europe and the fountains and cascades still work like they did in the 17^th century. The stables are filled with royal carriages, hunting wagons, sleighs and antique royal cars, including the famous painted wagon and Queen Wilhelmina’s white funeral carriage. The entire complex is surrounded by a vast woodland park with romantic ponds, which is also open to the public.
 
The interior of the palace shows 300 years of residency by the House of Orange, from Stadholder William II and Queen Mary II up until Queen Wilhelmina. Permanent and temporary exhibitions featuring historical objects, documents, paintings, crockery, silver, royal garments and court apparel are set up in the wings to illustrate the historical connection between the House of Orange-Nassau and the Netherlands. One of the world’s largest collections of national and international medals is showcased in the Museum of the Chancellery of the Netherlands Orders of Knighthood.

Kröller-Müller Museum

This very special museum was founded by Anton Kröller and his wife Helene Kröller-Müller. It houses a collection of world famous art and a sculpture garden and is the ideal place to enjoy tranquillity, plenty of space, peace and quiet in incredibly diverse surroundings. There are a number of unique buildings and pavilions in the park and in the sculpture garden.
 
The Kröller-Müller Museum collection is built around a sizeable collection of works by Vincent Van Gogh. This collection is arguably one of the most impressive overviews of his oeuvre. The museum also features a number of major works by George Seurat, Pablo Picasso, Fernand Léger and Piet Mondriaan, along with many other well-known artists.

The museum has sculptures and applied art and features temporary exhibitions on artists from the museum’s collection as well as contemporary artists. The huge sculpture garden is home to a unique collection of sculptures by artists including Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Richard Serra, Jean Dubuffet and Claes Oldenburg.Covering 25 hectares, this impressive garden is one of Europe’s largest.

The Netherlands Open Air Museum

They didn’t have television and their mode of transportation was a horse-drawn carriage. People slept in box beds and only bathed once a week. At the Open Air Museumyou will meet friendly farmers and farmers’ wives, along with the laundry boss, the carriage maker, the blacksmith, the fisher and the miller, who will tell you everything as you explore this unique way of life.

An authentic antique tram takes you around the huge museum park. It is driven by a tram driver, while the conductor punches your ticket. The Open Air Museum is a museum where you can not only look at things, but also do everything yourself. Have fun climbing and scrambling around the old-fashioned playground, walk on stilts, play with a hoop or race a genuine Flying Dutchman on the charming ZaanSquare. You can also try your hand at making paper or help out with the washing at the old laundry.

Attractions and Zoos

To be honest, the Veluwe is an attraction in itself and the various amusement parks simply serve to reinforce this. Get on board a steam train or have your picture taken with Juul the mouse. Go for a ride on a white bicycle in the National Parkor visit one of the many children’s farms. The Veluwe is home to a variety of zoos and animal parks, where you could come face to face with a white lion or seen dolphins dance.Whether you want to see an island inhabited exclusively by monkeys orwalk across an actual desert, the Veluwe isan unforgettable experience for each and every one.
 
The attractions & zoos are waiting to welcome you!

Burgers’Zoo

Burgers’ Zoo is a very special zoo, with over 3000 animals to discover! You will find monkeys, antelopes, elephants, sea lions and an extensive range of birds.

Go on an adventurous trip through the safari park, where you will cross a long, covered wooden bridge and see giraffes, zebras, rhinos, lions and cheetahs, just like on the African savannah.

Veluwezoom

Veluwezoom, the beautiful area between Renkum and Laag-Soeren, boasts many tourist attractions and a rich cultural past. In Renkum, the memory of the Battle for Arnhem is still very much part of the present, with a commemoration taking place every year over the weekend around September 17^th. The Airborne Museum will give you some idea of what had happened back then.Rheden is an ideal place for walkers and cyclists because of the Rheden Four-Day Cycling Event and the Veluwezoom National Park, whilewalking around Loenermarkt you are likely to come across a flock of sheep. The smallest town in the Netherlands (except for the islands of Vlieland and Schiermonnikoog) is situated in Veluwezoomand in 2004, the village Rozendaal, known for the Rosendael Castle, was voted greenest village in Europe. Veluwezoomreally is a region that will suit all tastes!

The Posbank park& ride is located in an authentic, completely renovated and extended farmhouse, typical of the province of Gelderland. Information about the history, management and flora and fauna of Veluwezoom National Park is available at the visitor centre, adjoined by the educational garden that is owned by the IVN(Vereniging voor Natuur- en Milieueducatie). Educational games and a “gaming den” will keep the children entertained and the VVV Tourist Information Centre branch and Rheden bicycle hire are also located here. The visitor centre is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and the wildlife area is open daily from sunrise till sunset. Free admission to the National Park and the park & ride.

Water Sports

Water in the Veluwe? Yes, indeed! You’ll find plenty of water in pools, ditches, brooks and springs. Stroll alongside charming brooks or just sit and dream for a while beside a spring. You’ll also find beaches where you can relax in the sunshine.If it’s action you want, the Rhine and the IJsselalso provide shores for paddling, fishing, and watching boats go by. A pool in a recreation area is excellent for a day’s swimming or tryone of the border lakes for sailing or windsurfing. There are lots of activities to enjoy on the water and in the harbours of the old fishing villages.