Vakantie in de mooiste bossen van Nederland? De Veluwe!

 Top nature reserve

Want to be nice and close on holiday, but still fully immersed in nature? For the most beautiful forests you don’t just have to go to Canada or an exotic national park. Just ‘with us’ on the Veluwe, a beautiful wooded area awaits you in the broadest sense of the word. From rushing through the forests, skipping over the heathlands to rushing through the Veluwe Sahara: endless sand drifts of 1,000 square kilometers.

The Veluwe Sahara

It is precisely the variety that makes the Veluwe such a special nature reserve in all seasons. In August the purple rain appears, although the heather only blooms for a short time. In the colder months it is fantastic winter walking, with or without snow. The good thing is: you don’t have to look for all that beauty next door.

Winter walking in the Veluwe

Are you going to spend the night in the Veluwe soon and could you use some good tips? For example, are you curious about a nice Veluwe cycling route or would you like to settle down on a beach by the water? One thing is certain: you will not easily get bored in the most beautiful forests in the Netherlands!

Walking on the Veluwe

With a ranger on the trail or on your own: walking on the Veluwe is always a treat for everyone from 0 to 100. With a walk you are close to nature and you disturb the fauna as little as possible. The best time to spot game? Be sure to set out very early in the morning or in the evening – when dusk is almost approaching.

Then your ‘wild chance’ is considerably greater than during the day. Especially if you are traveling with a guide. A nice suggestion? Take one of the beautiful stages of the Veluwe Zwerfpad. This path measures a total of 375 kilometers and takes you past all the highlights of the Veluwe, such as the Veluwezoom, De Hoge Veluwe, the Loenermark and the Kootwijkerzand.

Cycling and mountain biking

If you want to see more Veluwe in one day, choose one of the special cycling tours. A route with highlights is available for cycling enthusiasts, although at the start in Hoederloo you have 57 kilometers and numerous climbs ahead of you! Or how about a bike ride through the Hoge Veluwe National Park? Right next to Kröller Müller you can hop on one of the free (included with entrance) white bicycles and pedal off into a new adventure.

During the Hidden Gems on the Veluwe cycling tour, you will discover this area from its best side. Make the climb to the Netherlands’ highest waterfall at Loenen, pass the oldest paper factory in the Netherlands and discover the bright green sand lizard on the enormous plains of the Veluwe. With a mountain bike this is of course a piece of cake. 

Climbing and scrambling

For those who prefer something a little higher, Klimbos Garderen offers a solution. Just for the concerned parents among us… This climbing forest is one of the safest climbing forests in the Netherlands; We work with extremely experienced climbing instructors and a safe belay system.

During two hours of climbing you can complete several courses, whatever you want. Courses are available in various lengths and gradations. Do your kids also want to climb? That is possible, but they must be at least 1.20 meters long! Children under the age of 13 are required to climb under the supervision of an adult. Make sure you reserve in advance to avoid waiting.

Watching monkeys

The Apenheul is located in the middle of nature on the edge of Apeldoorn : a park with more than 300 monkeys and about 35 different species of free-ranging monkeys. And that in the Netherlands! The tall trees give the lemurs, or squirrel monkeys, space to do what they do best: climb and swing.

Larger monkey species such as gorillas, bonobos and orangutans live on large islands behind closed doors, so you won’t bump into them. Tip: don’t take any food with you, because these animals are as brutal as a monkey and will take everything right out of the bag or buggy. The best thing about the Apenheul is that you don’t actually know who is studying who attentively. Do monkeys watch people or the other way around?

recreation in the Veluwe

A true idyll awaits you at Heerde: a lake lined with tall conifers and heathlands. The Heerderstrand with its many sunbathing areas and beaches invites you to enjoy swimming, sunbathing and relaxing. Also ideal with young children. With water pumps and playgrounds they are indispensable here. Older kids? At Pitch & Putt at Paviljoen Fairway they can enjoy a game of (midget) golf.

What is the best time to travel?

The Veluwe is beautiful to visit all year round, nature is at its most beautiful in spring and autumn. In summer it is a bit busier and can be warmer, while in winter some activities may be closed.

What are the best accommodations in the Veluwe?

There are many different accommodations in the Veluwe, including campsites, holiday parks, hotels and B&Bs. Popular holiday parks include Droomparken, Landal GreenParks and Center Parcs. Hotels range from luxury to basic hotels and B&Bs often offer a more personalized experience.

What else is there to do in the Veluwe with children?

Playgrounds and swimming pools! Popular attractions for children include the Apenheul, Burgers’ Zoo, the Julianatoren and the Dolfinarium.

More holidays, weekends away in the Netherlands?

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