Nunspeet: Forest Trails, Art and Mills

Around Nunspeet, forests, heathland, water and drifting sands shape the landscape; you’ll also find trails, art and local history. The four village centres of Nunspeet, Vierhouten, Hulshorst and Elspeet lie in the heart of the Noord-Veluwe and are surrounded by forests, water, heathland and drifting sands. When planning your trip, consider whether you’d like to focus mainly on hiking, exploring art venues or discovering historical sites and stories.

Forests, Heathland and Hiking Trails

The Boswachterij Nunspeet combines historic drifting sands, heathland and forests near Nunspeet and Vierhouten. Most of the area is accessible year-round, although some zones may be temporarily closed. The municipality of Nunspeet has a completed network of 230 kilometres of hiking trails. The trails pass through forests and heathland, run alongside areas near the water and go through village centres. Check the latest route information before setting out.

For a specific walk, the Ronde-Huis walk from the Zwarte Veldje offers a four-kilometre option, with parking available there. The route passes through deciduous and coniferous forests and, in the Zandenbos, partly follows narrow paths. The Heetjesroute takes in a different mix of landscapes: it crosses heathland and passes through forest, alongside drifting sands and the banks of the Leuvenumse Beek. Check trail conditions before setting out on the Ronde-Huis walk.

Gardens and Getting Around

The IVN-Bijentuin is located in a forest in the centre of Nunspeet, at Zandenboslaan 1 along the Eperweg. You can visit it daily from sunrise to sunset. Larger groups can arrange a beekeeper-led presentation about bees by appointment; guided tours with an expert are also available by appointment. The garden’s individual visiting hours therefore differ from the group activities that need to be arranged separately.

Heemtuin de Heimanshof is a Veluwe landscape garden with plants that grow naturally on the Veluwe, and is freely accessible. Two marked circular walks each take about fifteen minutes. The red route follows wider paths suitable for pushchairs. Those interested in the Veluwe’s natural environment can also visit the Bezoekerscentrum Nunspeet, which has an exhibition on the subject; exhibition content may change.

Nunspeet railway station is within walking distance of the Bezoekerscentrum; from there, you can reach the forest almost immediately. Bus routes 301, 111 and 112 stop near the centre. From the station, it takes just a few minutes to walk to the centre via the Stationslaan. Check current bus connections and timetables before departure.

Art and History in Nunspeet and Vierhouten

The Noord-Veluws Kunstmuseum explores Nunspeet’s history as an artists’ colony from 1880 to 1950. Its permanent collection features artists who gained national and international recognition between 1890 and 1950. The Uit de Kunst cycling route also connects the landscape with art history: it is 45 kilometres long and includes ten information panels marking places that were important to painters of the past. As the locations of the panels may change, check the latest route description before setting out. The museum also offers a documented and illustrated cycling route through the landscape; ask the museum whether it is currently available.

You can also discover art on shorter routes. At five locations in the centre of Nunspeet, Kunstsnoer features large display cases with artworks that are refreshed about every three months. A walk along Kunstsnoer connects Transferium, Stationsplein, Stationslaan and Marktplein, passing public artworks along the way. In and around Vierhouten, you can see at least thirteen wooden artworks while exploring the village. They include a life-size wooden deer with real antlers.

In Vierhouten, you can visit three reconstructed huts at the Verscholen Dorp. The former hiding camp from the Second World War is a historic monument; check visitor access locally. In Elspeet stands Molen De Hoop, an octagonal wooden grain mill built in 1894. It has been restored and processes grain from the region. The millers offer tours on Fridays and Saturdays; check in advance whether a tour is available on the day of your visit. Traditionally, the first grain was brought in using an old harvesting machine.

Molen de Maagd and Molen de Duif also tell the story of the area’s milling history. Molen de Maagd was built in 1894 and, following a second restoration, has been fully operational again since 1988. It has two pairs of millstones and mills grain commercially. Molen de Duif is a belt mill dating from 1886, restored in 1963 and 1982; it still mills flour, which is sold in the mill shop. Another cultural venue is Veluvine, with a theatre, art-house cinema, ongoing free art exhibitions, courses and workshops.

Water and Seasonal Experiences

At Surfoever De Hoge Bijssel on the Veluwemeer, you can windsurf, sail, swim, row and fish. Access to the water and facilities may be subject to seasonal arrangements. Zandenplas is a sandy beach in the middle of the forest, where you can relax by the water. If you plan to swim there, check seasonal facilities and water quality in advance.

For families, there’s a specific play feature: the sculpture Krelis de Keiler stands in a playground and children are allowed to climb on and touch it. Hobbykwekerij De Ganzenakkers offers another seasonal activity. From June, visitors can pick their own bouquet or order one, depending on the weather.

Discover more destinations: Hulshorst, Vierhouten, Elspeet, Nunspeet, Lochem, Apeldoorn, Nijmegen, Elburg.

For the main travel overview: Gelderland.