Veenendaal: Mills, Street Art and Waterways

Veenendaal brings together traces of a peat colony, mills, art in public spaces and routes on foot or on the water. If you’re looking for a hotel in Veenendaal, these different themes can help structure your trip planning: discover history through the landscape, canal and mills; routes, a museum and seasonal offerings provide other focal points. This way, you can tailor your stay to the experiences that interest you.

From peat colony to mills and street art

Veenendaal’s history began with the reclamation of the peat bog in the Gelderse Vallei. This created a landscape of long, narrow plots. Shortly after the new peat colony was founded, a church and a market were established.

De Grift also has a specific historical date: between 1473 and 1481, Bishop David van Bourgondië had the canal dug. Two windmills offer further tangible points of interest. De Nieuwe Molen is a round stone windmill with a gallery and was built in 1911. Molen De Vriendschap dates from 1872; flour is still ground there using traditional methods. The construction dates and the ongoing milling offer different perspectives on the local heritage.

Art in public spaces adds a different dimension. A mural in the tunnel on Spitsbergenweg depicts a cyclist from Veenendaal and a pheasant from the Binnenveld. The street art route draws on the town’s history and tells stories of its residents. New locations are being added to the route. This means there is both a single mural with clearly identified subjects and a route featuring several stories.

Museum, routes and activities

The general program at Stadsmuseum Veenendaal includes rotating exhibitions, talks, demonstrations and other activities each year; the programs change. There are also specific activities for children: they can take part in a treasure hunt or workshop, or explore the escape box together. As activities may change, it’s worth taking the current program into account when planning.

For some exercise, the 7-kilometre Monumentenrondje offers several options: you can complete the route on foot, by bicycle, scooter, inline skates or running. An audio tour passes four different monumental buildings and historic sites. The stated distance and range of ways to get around make it easier to decide how to fit the loop into your stay. Route details may be updated; check them before planning.

If you’d rather plan your own walking route, you can link numbered junctions on the Veenendaal walking junction network. Signage may change, so it’s a good idea to check the current waymarking. The Monumentenrondje has a set distance and several specified ways to get around; the junction network, by contrast, lets you choose the order of the numbered points yourself.

De Grift, regional products and events

There are different ways to enjoy the water, too. Today, you can travel by canoe along De Grift from Rhenen to Amersfoort, passing through Veenendaal; access to the water may vary. Kayaks, canoes and SUP boards can be launched from the canoe jetties. As visitor facilities may change, check the situation locally before setting out. Another perspective is offered by trips on the Veense Aak, which let you experience Veenendaal from the water. Tickets and packages can be reserved through Stadsmuseum Veenendaal. Dates and reservation information may change; check them if you’re planning a trip.

At the Eekhoeve farm shop, visitors can sample boerenkaas (farmhouse cheese), Hereford beef and Veens Kaatje; the product selection may vary. In Eekhoeve’s experience gardens, visitors can pick or cut their own flowers, vegetables and fruit. This experience is seasonal. The two offerings are therefore different: one invites visitors to sample named products, while the other lets them pick or cut their own.

The Veenendaal-Veenendaal cycling race has been held since 1985 and starts and finishes in Veenendaal. Dates and route vary with each edition. If you’d like to plan your trip around the race, check the details for the relevant edition. Mills, art, waterways, the museum and events thus offer different ways to plan your stay in Veenendaal around your own interests.

For the broader travel overview: Veenendaal.