Apeldoorn: Culture, Nature and Trails

At Stadspark Berg & Bos, dense forests, open fields and bodies of water come together to create a varied landscape. A trip to Apeldoorn also offers museums, historic sites, outdoor art and trails through nature. You can focus your stay on culture or outdoor activities—or combine the two.

Parks, forests and trails

Stadspark Berg & Bos has an extensive network of walking and hiking trails, with both short loops and longer routes. The park also offers space to play, explore and picnic. Sporting facilities include a treetop adventure park and sports fields; you can also spot deer and wild boar. A wildlife observation hide and the highest viewing tower on the Veluwe offer other ways to take in the landscape.

A short loop in the park starts at Acaciaplein, at the junction between the play meadow and Apenheul, and runs for about 0.6 kilometres around the play meadow. Aardhuispark has a hiking route of about 3 kilometres. These distances give you two concrete options when deciding between a shorter loop and a longer hike.

Het Aardhuis is the visitor centre for Kroondomein Het Loo, on Amersfoortseweg in Apeldoorn. The free exhibition covers the estate’s origins and development, including its flora and fauna, management and conservation, and activities on the estate. Red deer and fallow deer roam freely in Aardhuispark. Since the 1980s, Het Aardhuis has served as a visitor centre, museum and restaurant.

You can also hike around Uddelermeer, following trails along the water and through the surrounding forests. The lake was formed during the Ice Age and is considered one of the oldest natural lakes in the Netherlands. Loenense Waterval offers a different landscape: it has a height difference of 15 metres and is described as the highest waterfall in the Netherlands. The area is suitable for cycling.

Art, history and special places

CODA brings together a museum, archive and library in a Dutch cultural centre. The museum focuses mainly on modern art, with an emphasis on paper and jewellery. CODA organises exhibitions, children’s ateliers and workshops throughout the year. Guided tours of current exhibitions take place on the first Sunday afternoon of each month. The museum also offers teacher-led tours of current exhibitions for groups of up to 15 people. Check the relevant dates and tour formats before your visit.

Another way to explore public art is a short audio tour through Apeldoorn’s Cultuurkwartier, which provides information about outdoor art. Sprengenpark is designed as a sculpture garden, with works by prominent Dutch sculptors. In Oranjepark, winding paths, wide lawns and a long, curved pond create an English landscape style. During the summer months, concerts take place in the music pavilion on Sunday afternoons; you can check the dates in advance.

Paleis Het Loo was the former summer residence of the Dutch stadtholder and royal family and has served as a museum since 1984. Audio or reading tours are available for the self-guided palace routes; formats may change. The approximately 650-hectare Paleispark Het Loo includes forest, heathland, ponds and a deer enclosure. Hidden benches, bridges over streams and buildings once used by the royal family recall the former presence of the House of Orange.

The cemetery on Soerenseweg is more than 120 years old. Both it and the gatehouse are Rijksmonumenten, or state-protected monuments in the Netherlands. The Plaggenstekerspad offers another glimpse of local history, taking you through the history of Hoenderloo.

In Wenum-Wiesel, landscape meets craftsmanship and hospitality: the historic Wenumse Watermolen stands on the Wenumse Beek and is still powered by water. It is one of the oldest watermills in the Netherlands. A route there passes streams, historic paths and fields, and leads through meadows and stream valleys; check the route details before travelling. A teahouse in Wenum-Wiesel serves tea according to a special tea concept, accompanied by matching treats.

Nature experiences in the region

Apenheul is a green nature park with monkeys on the edge of Apeldoorn, near the Veluwe. Around 35 different monkey species live there; the park also has free-roaming monkeys, feeding presentations by animal keepers and playgrounds. Guided tours cover the monkeys and the park’s history. The number of species may change, and activities may be adjusted seasonally. Further afield in the region, Hoenderloo is home to one of the entrances to De Hoge Veluwe National Park. Entry arrangements may change, so check them before your visit.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Hoenderloo, Uddel, Ugchelen, Nieuw-Milligen, Loenen, Beemte Broekland, Hoog-Soeren, Beekbergen, Apeldoorn.

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