Rozendaal: Forest, Heath and History

Most of the municipality of Rozendaal is made up of forest and heathland. The forests around Rozendaal blend seamlessly into Veluwezoom National Park, which extends beyond the municipality. Historic sites and the open character of the old village centre also shape the municipality’s character.

Rosendael Castle and its park

Kasteel Rosendael was originally built in the 14th century. Its almost 700-year history as a residence began in the Middle Ages, when the Counts and Dukes of Gelre lived here. The historic rooms include a dining room, bedroom and kitchen; the collection features furniture, paintings, porcelain and silverware.

Rosendael Park includes the Bedriegertjes, a shell gallery, a tea house, ponds and fountains. The Bedriegertjes, with their shell wall, are located between the second and third ponds and are considered a unique phenomenon in the Netherlands and Europe. Kasteel Rosendael and its park are currently open to the public during the summer months. Check seasonal access before your trip.

The park’s natural environment is also diverse: it is home to 70 species of trees and shrubs, numerous native herbs and more than 40 breeding bird species, including the kingfisher. The walking path through the park is about 3 km long and passes the most distinctive attractions and places. It is not signposted; Kasteel Rosendael is recommended as the starting point, and the route provider recommends using a GPS device.

Forest trails and landscapes

The “Het Rozendaalse bos” route passes through hilly terrain with a mix of deciduous and coniferous forest. Thanks to its open connection to the Veluwe, red deer, fallow deer, roe deer and wild boar can be spotted there. The IVN route starts at the car park on the bend of Schelmseweg, near Wageningse Hek. For a different landscape, the almost seven-kilometre-long IVN “Vitens waterwingebied De Pinkenberg” route takes you through a water catchment and extraction area. The nutrient-poor soils there support birch, Scots pine and oak, among other trees. Check the route app before setting out.

Walking, cycling and horse riding are all possible activities in Rozendaal. The nature area is easily accessible to pedestrians and cyclists, and several well-signposted cycling routes pass through it. This means that the wayfinding options differ: the walking path in the park is unmarked, while the cycling routes are signposted. Part of the Natuurmonumenten area near De Imbosch is grazed by Scottish Highland cattle, an old cattle breed.

Village character and cultural heritage

The old village centre of Rozendaal has retained its open, spacious character, described as unique by Dutch standards. Both the village centre and the De Imbosch nature area are designated protected townscapes. One cultural walk is the 2.4 km Barnard Poëziepad, featuring seven poems by Willem Barnard and his son Benno. Willem Barnard was a minister in Rozendaal from 1961 to 1971 and wrote under the pseudonym Guillaume van der Graft.

Rozendaal’s church also tells the story of the village: it was inaugurated on 9 July 1758 and houses a monumental Art Nouveau wall painting from 1905. The Rosendael music pavilion dates from the 1930s and is a rare example of a music pavilion on a historic Dutch country estate. The Torckschool was built in 1842 for the community of Rosendael.

The Emmapyramide stands on Kluizenaarsberg, a hill created in 1891 as a job-creation project that reaches a total height of 98 metres above sea level. The monument there commemorates ten men who were shot by the occupying forces on 13 December 1944. Another distinctive landmark is the Brandtoren on Rozendaalse Veld: it is over 33 metres high, its lookout hut stands 130 metres above sea level, and the view can extend up to 60 kilometres.

Discover more destinations: Rozendaal, Tiel, Lingewaard, Buren, Rijnwaarden, Wijchen, Ubbergen, Oude Ijsselstreek.

For the overview of the wider region: Gelderland.