Nieuw-Milligen is surrounded by extensive woodlands, heathland and quiet countryside. The landscape and history of the area offer several ways to plan a stay: walks through former shifting-sand areas, a cycling route through woodland and heath, and traces of the remount depot. If you are looking for a holiday rental, you can use these highlights as a starting point when planning your trip. The routes differ most clearly in their length, terrain and the landscapes described.

Woodland, heath and shifting sands

The Maanschoten nature reserve is home to numerous pollarded oaks, indicating a history of intensive woodland management. A nature conservation update from 2025 places Kootwijkerveen in the vicinity of Nieuw-Milligen. This distinctive wetland and raised bog area lies in the heart of the Veluwe. Woodlands and heathland shape the landscape around Nieuw-Milligen.

Walking trails: distance, terrain and scenery

In the version described in March 2025, the “Rabbit Hill – Nieuw Milligse Zand” walking route is 7.2 kilometres long and starts in Nieuw-Milligen. It passes through mixed stands of conifers and individual plots with various broadleaf and conifer species before reaching Kootwijkerveen. The route also takes in the former shifting-sand areas of Nieuw Milligse Zand, where there are wide views across gently rolling countryside. This walk therefore combines woodland sections with open sandy landscapes.

Another walk, “Caitwickerzand en Maanschoten,” passes through the former shifting-sand area of Caitwickerzand. The paths and trails there are mostly winding and often loose and sandy. The route descriptions therefore differ clearly: a specific distance is given for Rabbit Hill, while the terrain and route character are the focus at Caitwickerzand. When choosing, you can start with either the known route length or the described character of the trail.

Cycling and enjoying nature

The “Nieuw Milligen–Staverden” cycling route starts in Nieuw-Milligen. The July 2023 version passes through the woodland and heath landscapes typical of the Veluwe. The route lists Staverden Castle and Park as a place to visit in the Nieuw-Milligen area. If you are planning a visit, check current visitor information in advance.

In the surrounding area, visitors may be lucky enough to spot red deer, wild boar or Scottish Highland cattle. Wildlife watching is a possibility, not a fixed stop on the walking or cycling route. You can therefore choose your route based on the scenery and trail characteristics, while any wildlife sightings remain an additional, uncertain discovery.

History between village and camp

The Nieuw Milligen inn once stood at the intersection of Amersfoortseweg and Meervelderweg. Archaeological traces also reach far back into the past: Nieuw-Milligen is one of the well-documented urnfield sites in Apeldoorn. These urnfields were used until around 2,500 years ago, toward the end of the Middle Iron Age.

Kamp Nieuw-Milligen is a military camp in the village of Nieuw-Milligen, on the border between the municipalities of Apeldoorn and Barneveld. It began in 1860 as a remount depot, which King Willem III made available to the First Infantry Regiment from Grave. The surviving stable buildings and the functional, orthogonally laid-out landscape of the 19th-century remount depot are considered a unique and experimental type of site in Dutch military history. Nieuw-Milligen’s distinctive radar domes remain a prominent landmark in the landscape and recall the area’s remarkable history.

Discover more destinations: Uddel, Loenen, Beekbergen, Hoenderloo, Beemte Broekland, Ugchelen, Hoog-Soeren, Apeldoorn

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