Those choosing Wageningen as a travel destination can focus on nature, art or remembrance. The Neder-Rijn is the setting for river landscapes; there is also a botanical garden, a collection of sculptures and specific sites in Dutch history. When planning, it helps to organise the themes according to your interests: landscape, plants, sculpture or history.
River landscapes and green spaces
The Blauwe Kamer nature reserve combines the dynamic river environment of the Neder-Rijn with marshland, willow woodland, flower-rich meadows and the remains of an old brickworks. The Wageningse Eng offers a different focus: designated a National Landscape, it is an open, tranquil area with fields, old sandy tracks and hedgerows. This makes it possible to distinguish between two different landscape types—the river environment of the Blauwe Kamer and the open landscape of the Eng, shaped by fields and hedgerows.
The Belmonte Arboretum adds a botanical garden of more than 10.7 hectares to this selection. Its labelled collections include trees, shrubs and woody plants. The arboretum also offers views across the Neder-Rijn to the Betuwe, with its dykes, meadows with pollarded willows and farmhouses. This is a different view of the landscape from the marshland and willow woodland of the Blauwe Kamer. The Belmonte Arboretum is open daily throughout the year from sunrise to sunset; check the opening hours again before your visit.
Walking and cycling to suit your interests
There are opportunities for walking and cycling in and around Wageningen, for example through the historic city centre and the uiterwaarden, over the Wageningse Berg or along cycling routes with numbered junctions. Gilde Wageningen organises guided walks in and around Wageningen throughout the year by appointment. One walking option with a specified distance is the Klompenpad Wageningse Engpad: it is about 12.5 kilometres long, can be walked in both directions and is marked in purple with a clog symbol. This makes it possible to distinguish between general walking and cycling opportunities, a guided walk arranged by appointment and a named trail with a stated distance.
Sculptures and history
Beeldengalerij Het Depot is housed in three buildings in Wageningen, connected by the De Dreijen Arboretum and the Hinkeloord Arboretum. Het Depot displays torsos and fragments of the human body; visitors may touch the sculptures. This gives the art focus a specific emphasis on the human body and a distinctive feature that goes beyond simply viewing the works.
The names Hotel de Wereld, Capitulatiezaal and 5 Mei Plein also represent different historical associations. On 5 May 1945, General Charles Foulkes chose Hotel de Wereld on behalf of the Allies as the venue for negotiations on the surrender of the German occupying forces in the Netherlands. The Capitulatiezaal is part of the restaurant at Hotel de Wereld. The annual commemorations at 5 Mei Plein are a separate matter: the square plays a central role in Wageningen’s commemorative events on 4 and 5 May. When planning a stay around these dates, it is therefore helpful to distinguish between the historic venue for the negotiations and the square’s role in the annual commemorations.
A local market day
Local produce is also among the things to discover: at the Wageningse Streekmarkt in Vijzelstraat, vegetables, bread, goat’s cheese, lamb, juice, tarts, kombucha, pickles, honey and Stoof are available on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If the market day matters to your stay, check the dates and times again before travelling.
For the overall travel guide: Wageningen.
