Arnhem can be explored from a variety of perspectives: audio stations along walking tours lead to historic sites, while museums focus on art and memories of the Battle of Arnhem. Green destinations such as Sonsbeek Park offer a different perspective. You can tailor your stay to your interests in art, local history, nature or a mix of all three.
Art and History in Specific Places
Museum Arnhem showcases modern and contemporary art and design, including fashion and jewellery. It is situated on a high glacial lateral moraine and offers views of the Rhine. The museum includes a sculpture garden that is open to the public free of charge. If you plan to visit it specifically, check the current access conditions in advance.
Eusebius Church tells the story of Arnhem from the Middle Ages through the Second World War and into the post-war reconstruction. Its panoramic lift rises to a height of 73 metres and offers views over Arnhem and the surrounding area. Exhibitions on the church’s history and the Battle of Arnhem are held regularly; if you have a particular exhibition in mind, check the current dates.
At the Netherlands Open Air Museum, you’ll encounter buildings, objects and stories dating back as far as 400 years. You can also learn a craft in a workshop. The Erfgoedcentrum in Rozet offers another way to explore the city’s history: objects and stories there together tell the story of Arnhem and its surroundings.
Walking Tours with Different Themes
The City Walk Arnhem is a four-kilometre walking route through the city’s historic buildings and sites. Several audio stations on the Liberation Route Europe tell the stories of Second World War events at the locations where they took place. The walk thus links historic sites with stories about what happened there.
The Airborne City Tour Arnhem focuses specifically on the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. The route runs through the centre and includes 25 audio stations. They cover the Allied airborne troops’ attempt to capture the bridges over the major rivers—including the bridges at Arnhem—and how this turned the city into a frontline area. While the City Walk takes in a number of historic sites and events, this tour focuses on the history of the battle.
At Airborne at the Bridge, an outpost of the Airborne Museum in the city centre, the focus is on the John Frost Bridge. Three personal stories tell of people who fought and died there during the battle. There is also a VVV information point with tourist information about the region. If you plan to use this service, check its current availability in advance.
Green Spaces and a View of the Water
Sonsbeek Park is a good place for birdwatching. In early spring, you can see wood anemones, snowdrops and foxgloves, among other flowers, beneath the trees. Stadstuin Kweekland is an edible landscape on a typical Arnhem south-facing slope next to Sonsbeek Park—a different way to experience the city’s green side.
Stadstuin Kweekland offers guided tours and workshops. Lunch and dinner in the garden and greenhouse are also available. Specific visit and dining arrangements may vary; check the options available during your visit in advance.
The Netherlands Water Museum explores the importance of water in everyday life, in the Netherlands and around the world. Games and activities take place in the museum or its surroundings. As the visitor programme may change, it’s worth checking the current offerings before your visit.
Getting to the city centre can also be straightforward: from Arnhem’s railway stations, you can walk directly into the centre and reach historic sights, shops and cafés. Check current route information for the specific walk.
Discover more destinations: Arnhem, Beuningen, West Maas en Waal, Lingewaard, Zutphen, Elburg, Nijkerk, Rijnwaarden.
For the broader travel overview: Gelderland.
