Beekbergen offers a variety of ways to explore the Veluwe’s landscape and history: routes pass through old cultural landscapes and forests, historic mills tell the story of paper-making in the past, and at the Veluwsche Stoomtrein Maatschappij you can set off on a steam train ride. When choosing where to go, it depends on whether you would rather focus on trails, the history of technology, or a specific ride.

Explore the Landscape on Foot

The Bekbergerpad passes through the stream valley of Beekbergen, along historic enks and through old forests on the Veluwe. The landscape is the connecting thread here: the stream valley, cultivated land, and forest are all explicitly described sections of the route. If you want to choose a route based on its landscape, the Bekbergerpad offers several distinct impressions in a single route description.

The October 2024 version of the “Enk en Holt” route is 7.5 kilometres long. It passes through part of the Beekberger Enk, an old cultural landscape, and continues through the former Spelderholt estate. The route starts at the car park opposite De Smittenberg on Arnhemseweg in Beekbergen. This lets you choose a route based on a specific starting point and a stated distance.

Another option is the “Rondom Beekbergen en Loenen” cycling tour. The version described in June 2020 is 29.3 kilometres long; the tour starts in Beekbergen, goes to Loenen, and returns. Compared with the 7.5 kilometres of “Enk en Holt,” this is a considerably longer route. These two distances help you choose between a shorter route through cultural landscapes and a longer cycling loop, without combining the activities into a single itinerary.

Mills, Vintage Cars and a Steam Train

Mills are also part of the history of the Beekbergen area. The Ruitersmolen was originally built as a water-powered paper mill and was founded by Marten Orges in 1606. Its history offers a different perspective on the past than the trails through the enk: here, the focus is on its former use as a paper mill.

The Ford Museum Tullekensmolen is housed in a former watermill dating from 1535, which once served as a paper mill. The museum displays a collection of vintage Fords built between 1907 and 1935. In this historic mill building, two periods come together: its former role as a paper mill and a collection of vehicles from the early to mid-20th century.

At the Veluwsche Stoomtrein Maatschappij, you can board a steam train in Beekbergen. The line runs between Apeldoorn and Dieren along the more than century-old Koningslijn. If you want to include the ride in your plans, check the VSM’s operating days before your trip. This way, you can account for this specific activity on its own schedule instead of planning it as a service available at all times.

A Memorial Site in Beekbergen

The Exodusmonument commemorates the evacuees from Arnhem and the people who received the refugees and provided them with shelter. Also known as “de boom,” the monument is a representation of a tree made from Corten steel. An information board beside it explains its history in Dutch, English, and German. A memorial event is held at the monument every year on 25 September.

This gives you different considerations to take into account when planning: for the routes, you can compare the landscape and stated distance; for the steam train ride, the operating days matter. The monument, in turn, offers a specific historical connection and an annual memorial date. These differences can help you shape your stay around the topics that interest you most in Beekbergen.

Discover more destinations: Uddel, Beemte Broekland, Nieuw-Milligen, Loenen, Hoenderloo, Hoog-Soeren, Apeldoorn, Ugchelen.

Go to the main travel overview: Apeldoorn.