Discover Nature, Art and Architecture in Otterlo

Otterlo lies right beside an entrance to De Hoge Veluwe National Park. This makes the natural surroundings an obvious focus of a trip. Art, architecture and museums also feature prominently, from the sculpture garden and a hunting lodge designed by Berlage to tiles and life beneath the Earth's surface. If you are looking for a hotel in Otterlo, these varied interests can help you decide what kind of stay you would like.

Natural landscapes and walking routes

De Hoge Veluwe National Park is a nature park with more than 5,000 hectares of woodland, heathland, grassland and drifting sands. These landscape types offer a broad overview of the area: woodland lies alongside open heathland and grassland, as well as drifting sands. For walking, the walking, cycling and driving map provides further guidance; it shows thirteen walking routes. The landscape description and the number of routes answer different questions: one shows which natural environments define the park, while the other shows which walking options are listed on the map. If you are planning a particular route, please check the latest park information, as route availability may change.

Art, sculpture and architecture

The Kröller-Müller Museum has a 25-hectare sculpture garden with more than 160 sculptures. The area and the number of works convey two different aspects of the garden: its extent and the number of works on display. As the presentation may change, it is advisable to check in advance whether a particular work is currently on view. Jachthuis Sint Hubertus was the former country residence of the Kröller-Müller couple and was designed by architect Hendrikus Petrus Berlage (1856–1934). Its former use and the architect's name offer two distinct ways to explore its architectural history. A guided tour of the hunting lodge can be booked; check the dates in advance, as schedules may change.

Museums with different themes

The Nederlands Tegelmuseum is located in Otterlo and displays antique tiles dating from the 16th century to the present day. This broad time span gives the collection a historical perspective: antique tiles are presented alongside contemporary pieces. Museonder is located in the centre of De Hoge Veluwe National Park and is a free museum. It offers insights into everything that lives, or once lived, beneath the Earth's surface. Visiting arrangements may change; check the latest information before your visit.

To choose a cultural focus, it helps to distinguish between the different ways of exploring each place: the Tegelmuseum centres on objects from a collection spanning several centuries, while Museonder focuses on organisms beneath the Earth's surface, both today and in the past. The sculpture garden features three-dimensional works in a garden setting, while the Jachthuis focuses on architecture and former use. This lets you choose between a collection visit, natural history, sculpture and architectural history, rather than viewing culture as a single, uniform offering. Together with the national park, these provide several themes to explore during a hotel stay in Otterlo.

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