If you are considering a stay in Apeldoorn, you can focus on Dutch royal residence history, art, or exploring on foot or by bike. The gardens of Paleis Het Loo offer a particularly vivid example: they combine a striking reconstruction of a Baroque garden with the history of the former summer residence. Other options range from the network of walking trails in Berg & Bos city park to cycling routes focused on crafts, regional products or art.
Paleis Het Loo: Royal Residence History and Baroque Garden
Paleis Het Loo was the former summer residence of the Dutch stadtholder and royal family; since 1984, it has served as a museum. It is the largest authentic 17th-century palace of the House of Orange-Nassau. Its gardens are the only reconstruction of a Baroque garden in the Netherlands. They include the Koningssprong fountain, which shoots water more than 13 metres high. This places the palace’s former role as a residence and the reconstruction of a Baroque garden side by side as distinct aspects of the palace.
Walking Trails and Views in the City Park
Berg & Bos city park has an extensive network of walking trails, offering options for both short loops and longer routes. The 26-metre-high observation tower offers views across the park and the surrounding area of Apeldoorn. You can choose how to experience the park, whether by walking its trails or taking in the view from the tower.
Art, Church Architecture and Events
The CODA Museum presents changing exhibitions on modern visual art, contemporary fashion and jewellery by artists and designers, as well as art on and made from paper. The changing nature of the exhibitions sets a museum visit apart from the enduring historical associations of other cultural sites in Apeldoorn.
The present-day Grote Kerk was built in 1892 and is designated a Rijksmonument. It is used for weekly Sunday services and organ concerts. Theater en Congres Orpheus offers event spaces for theatre, concerts, conferences and events; the theatre opened in 1965. You can choose between changing exhibition themes, religious use and a venue with a variety of functions.
Apenheul and Getting There by Bus
At Apenheul, visitors can discover 34 species of monkeys using a free search card. Bus line 1 runs from Apeldoorn railway station to the Apenheul bus stop in 15 minutes. The stated time refers to the journey to that stop; check the current timetable before travelling. This makes it possible to pair your visit to see the monkey species with specific travel information, without confusing the journey time with walking time or the duration of the visit.
Cycling Routes with Different Themes
The Culinaire Fietsroute passes craft shops and farms where you can buy regional products. A detour at junction 51 leads to Koninginnelaan in Apeldoorn. There, various shops sell regional products from Apeldoorn and handcrafted goods.
The Makersroute is a circular cycling route through Apeldoorn and Voorst that includes opportunities to meet craftspeople. On the 18-kilometre cycling audio tour “Natuurlijk Buitenkunst”, you can hear the stories behind 14 artworks in public spaces. Each route has a different focus: the Culinaire Fietsroute centres on regional products, the Makersroute on meeting craftspeople, and “Natuurlijk Buitenkunst” on the stories behind artworks. You can choose a route based on the theme that interests you most while cycling.
Discover more destinations: Beekbergen, Loenen, Nieuw-Milligen, Hoenderloo, Beemte Broekland, Hoog-Soeren, Ugchelen, Uddel.
For the overview of the wider area: Apeldoorn.
