Castle visits and architectural history

Kasteel Middachten is open to visitors; guided tours are arranged on request. The castle is open to visitors on Sunday afternoons in June, July and August. As opening arrangements are seasonal, check them before you travel. The Dorpskerk in Rheden also tells the story of different building periods: it is originally Romanesque and has a medieval tower, a nave dating from around 1500, and two Meere organs from 1816. The Middachter Allee offers a different highlight: it is a beech avenue dating from 1751. A village church that served the residents of Dieren and Laag-Soeren as their church probably dates from the 10th century.

Forests, heathland and trails

Different types of landscape come together in Nationaal Park Veluwezoom: the park covers more than 5,200 hectares and features forests, heathland, drifting sands and stately country estates. Hiking and cycling are possible; there is also an extensive network of mountain-bike trails and bridleways. Check local access conditions before setting out. One specific hiking route passes through the Heuven and Beekhuizen estates, through forest, alongside bodies of water and along the banks of the Beekhuizense beek. This route therefore offers views of both forest and water. The forests of Landgoed Hof te Dieren, Landgoed Middachten and Natuurmonumenten also form a connected area that is suitable for hiking.

In Laag-Soeren, there is a wildlife viewing point where visitors can watch wild animals; sightings are not guaranteed. The Velperwaarden form an important corridor for many animals between the IJssel and the Veluwe. Here, river-valley grassland is maintained and the ecological quality of the stream is being improved. This landscape combines a habitat for animals with ongoing nature conservation work.

Getting around and experiences along the way

Bezoekerscentrum Veluwezoom is near Rheden railway station; the Posbank is within walking distance. Children can play in and around the centre, and visitors can rent bicycles there. As information about visitor services like these can change, check the current availability of bicycle rentals in advance. For a different way to experience the landscape, the Veluwsche Stoomtrein runs between Apeldoorn and Dieren along the more than one-hundred-year-old Koningslijn. The route passes through varied woodland and meadow scenery. Operating days and timetables vary by season; check them if you are planning a trip.

In Dieren, listening stone no. 24 on the Liberation Route Europe, by the lock on the Apeldoorns Kanaal, commemorates events from the Second World War. Concerts, lectures, festivals and markets take place at Landgoed Middachten; dates vary by season. If an event is the reason for your trip, check the specific dates. At De Spelerij in Dieren, the focus is on interactive play, including a hand-operated carousel, a crane and baking rolls. At De Uitvinderij, visitors can develop their own ideas and put them into practice. While De Spelerij focuses on particular hands-on activities, De Uitvinderij is about taking your own idea from concept to reality.

Landgoed Hof te Dieren belonged to the royal family in the 17th and 18th centuries. Each year, the estate offers a limited number of guided tours of its historic park for small groups; booking is required. This gives you the choice between a scheduled small-group tour and the various hiking and nature experiences described elsewhere in Rheden and the Veluwezoom.

Discover more destinations: Velp, Rheden, Ellecom, Dieren, De Steeg, Heerde, Nijkerk, Westervoort.

For the overview of the wider region: Gelderland.