Stadspark Berg & Bos combines dense woodland, open fields and bodies of water to create a varied landscape. An extensive network of walking and hiking trails offers both short circular walks and longer routes. In and around the park, there are sports facilities, including a climbing forest and sports fields; it also provides space for playing, exploring and picnicking. Deer and wild boar can be spotted. A wildlife observation hide and the highest observation tower in the Veluwe add to the nature experiences. As facilities may change, it is worth checking the latest information before your visit.
For a short walk, the park has a route that starts at Acaciaplein, at the junction between the playing field and Apenheul, and runs for about 0.6 kilometres around the playing field. Check the route details before setting out.
Art, History and Exhibitions
CODA brings together a museum, archive and library in a Dutch cultural centre. The museum focuses primarily on modern art, with an emphasis on paper and jewellery. Its programme includes exhibitions, children’s art studios and workshops throughout the year. For groups of up to 15 people, the museum offers tours of current exhibitions led by an instructor. Tours of current exhibitions also take place on the first Sunday afternoon of each month. Check event dates before your trip.
Paleis Het Loo was the summer residence of the Dutch stadtholder and royal family and has served as a museum since 1984. Self-guided palace routes are available as audio or reading tours; as formats may change, it is advisable to check the latest visitor information. Paleispark Het Loo covers about 650 hectares of woodland, heathland, ponds and a deer enclosure. Hidden benches, bridges over streams and buildings that once served the royal family recall the former presence of the House of Orange.
Smaller discoveries also tell of the region’s different facets. 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 trail traces the history of Hoenderloo. Sprengenpark, meanwhile, is a sculpture garden featuring works by prominent Dutch sculptors.
Green Routes and Distinctive Landscapes
At Oranjepark, the English landscape style, winding paths, expansive lawns and a long, curving pond define the scenery. Concerts take place in the music pavilion on Sunday afternoons during the summer months; check event dates in advance. A short audio tour through the Cultuurkwartier provides information about outdoor art and offers a walking perspective on Apeldoorn’s art scene.
On the edge of Apeldoorn, near the Veluwe, lies Apenheul, a green nature park with monkeys. About 35 different monkey species live there; experiences include free-roaming monkeys, feeding presentations by animal keepers and playgrounds. Guided tours cover the monkeys and the history of the park. Activities may be adapted seasonally.
Het Aardhuis is the visitor centre for Kroondomein Het Loo, on Amersfoortseweg in Apeldoorn. A free exhibition explores the estate’s origins and development, including its flora and fauna, management and conservation, and activities on the estate. Red and fallow deer roam freely in Aardhuispark; there is also a walking route of about 3 kilometres. By comparison, the short loop around the playing field in Stadspark Berg & Bos is about 0.6 kilometres: these distances provide a guide for choosing a route, but do not indicate walking times.
Further afield in the region, one entrance to De Hoge Veluwe National Park is located in Hoenderloo. Entrance arrangements may change; check the latest information before travelling there. At the centre of the national park is the free Museonder. Its exhibition shows what lives and once lived beneath the earth’s surface. The park also provides 2,000 white bicycles for free use.
Other landscapes have their own distinctive features: Uddelermeer was formed during the Ice Age and is described as one of the oldest natural lakes in the Netherlands. You can walk along the water and through the surrounding woodland. Loenense Waterval has a drop of 15 metres and is described as the highest waterfall in the Netherlands; its surroundings are suitable for cycling. The historic Wenumse Watermolen stands on the Wenumse Beek in Wenum-Wiesel. It is still powered by water and is one of the oldest watermills in the Netherlands. A route in Wenum-Wiesel passes streams and historic paths, and goes through old arable fields, meadows and stream valleys. Check the details before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Hoenderloo, Uddel, Hoog-Soeren, Beekbergen, Apeldoorn, Nieuw-Milligen, Loenen, Beemte Broekland, Ugchelen.
For the regional overview: Gelderland.
