Most of the municipality of Rozendaal consists of woodland and heathland. It also has an old village centre that has retained its open, spacious character. This is considered unique by Dutch standards. Here, nature and local history come together in a compact area, from the landscape to historic buildings.
Woodland, heathland and possible wildlife sightings
The forests around Rozendaal merge seamlessly into Veluwezoom National Park, which extends beyond the municipality. A route called “Het Rozendaalse bos” passes through hilly terrain with a mix of deciduous and coniferous woodland. Because of its open connection to the Veluwe, red deer, fallow deer, roe deer and wild boar may be spotted there. The route starts at the car park on the bend in the Schelmseweg near Wageningse Hek.
Near De Imbosch, Scottish Highland cattle graze part of the Natuurmonumenten area. Rozendaal’s nature reserve is also easily accessible to walkers and cyclists; several well-signposted cycling routes pass through it. Possible activities include hiking, cycling and horse riding. The old village centre and the De Imbosch nature reserve are designated protected townscapes.
Kasteel Rosendael and its park
Kasteel Rosendael was originally built in the 14th century and offers a glimpse into nearly 700 years of life in the castle. Its history begins in the Middle Ages, when the Counts and Dukes of Gelre lived here. The castle’s historic rooms include the dining room, bedroom and kitchen, as well as a special collection of furniture, paintings, porcelain and silverware. Kasteel Rosendael and its park are currently open to the public during the summer months. Check seasonal opening arrangements before your trip.
The park features the Bedriegertjes, a shell gallery, a tea house, ponds and fountains. The Bedriegertjes, with its shell wall, lies between the second and third ponds and is considered unique in the Netherlands and Europe. The park’s diversity is also reflected in its plants and wildlife: it is home to 70 species of trees and shrubs, numerous native herbs and more than 40 breeding bird species, including the kingfisher.
A walking path through the park is about three kilometres long and passes the most distinctive attractions and sites. It is not signposted; Kasteel Rosendael is recommended as the starting point, and GPS is recommended for navigation. This distinguishes the park path from longer routes: the nearly seven-kilometre IVN walking route “Vitens waterwingebied De Pinkenberg” passes through the water catchment and extraction area. Check the route app before setting out. Nutrient-poor soils shape the landscape here, where birch, Scots pine and oak, among other trees, grow.
Paths with a history
The Barnard Poetry Path combines a 2.4-kilometre village walk with seven poems by Willem Barnard and his son Benno. Willem Barnard was a pastor in Rozendaal from 1961 to 1971 and wrote under the pseudonym Guillaume van der Graft. The poems give the route a literary connection to local history. Rozendaal’s church also tells a story of the past: it is a Rijksmonument, was inaugurated on 9 July 1758 and houses a monumental Art Nouveau wall painting from 1905.
Another chapter of history recalls the occupation. The monument on the Emmapyramide commemorates ten men who were shot there by the occupying forces on 13 December 1944. The Emmapyramide was built in 1891 as a job-creation project. It is a hill on the Kluizenaarsberg and reaches a total height of 98 metres above sea level.
The Brandtoren stands on the Rozendaalse Veld and is over 33 metres high. Its observation hut is 130 metres above sea level, and the view can extend up to 60 kilometres. Another historic highlight is the Rosendael music pavilion, dating from the 1930s. It is considered a rare example of a music pavilion on a historic Dutch country estate.
Getting there and finding your way
Bus line 2 takes 15 minutes to reach Rozendaal from Arnhem Central Station. Check the connection before travelling, as transport details may change. Different themes can guide your trip planning: the castle and park combine historic rooms, garden features and nature, while the routes focus on woodland landscapes, waterways and possible wildlife sightings.
Discover more destinations: Rozendaal, Lingewaal, Brummen, Oost Gelre, Nijkerk, Zevenaar, Rijnwaarden, Beuningen.
For the wider travel overview: Gelderland.
