Discover Bilthoven from two different perspectives: paths through woodland, heathland and open countryside, and the town’s architecture and places of remembrance. A practical starting point for planning is the Belevingsroute De Leyen & Beukenburg. It begins at the car park of the De Leyen recreation area, about a 15-minute walk from Bilthoven NS railway station. This gives you an idea of the walk to the starting point and helps you decide whether nature or the town’s built heritage will be the focus of your stay.

Woodland, Heathland and Walking Trails

De Leyen and Beukenburg consist of farmland and woodland. Trails pass old coppice plots and run through a parkland forest with monumental beech avenues. The walking route through De Leyen also follows beech avenues. The old beeches provide a habitat for bats, owls and woodpeckers. The walk through the landscape therefore offers a close-up look at the wildlife that lives in these trees.

The De Leyen recreation area is a starting point or rest stop for hikes, bike rides, horseback rides and dog walks. The Belevingsroute has a named starting point and an approximate walking route from the station. You can plan this section separately from the time you set aside for activities in the area.

The Geopath offers a different focus: in Bilthoven’s built-up area, it can be walked in both directions, allowing you to view notable architecture twice. The Geopath also extends into the public walking area of Biltse Duinen. Heidepark is described as a wooded area surrounding heathland with old pines. The walking trails thus bring architecture, woodland and heathland together, while each trail has its own character.

Architecture and Places of Remembrance

Huize Gaudeamus is a Rijksmonument (listed national heritage site) in Bilthoven. The house was built in 1924 in the Amsterdam School style as a country house for musician Julius Rontgen. Here, a clearly defined architectural style meets the building’s original use as a country house. Dates can be arranged to use Huize Gaudeamus for cultural events.

The Julianaflatcomplex is opposite Bilthoven station. Dudok designed it for this site between 1955 and 1960. The station is therefore a clear landmark for finding it. In contrast to Huize Gaudeamus, the focus here is on a later architectural project and its design.

The memorial sites also have different focuses. The Herdenkingsmonument De Bilt in Bilthoven commemorates all victims of the Second World War and stands at the entrance to Jagtlust municipal hall on Soestdijkseweg. On the edge of the De Leyen recreation area is the “verloren kerkhof” (lost cemetery), a cultural heritage monument commemorating the vagrants buried there and the people who went into hiding during the Second World War. Thus, remembrance of all war victims and of specific groups named here are represented side by side at different locations in Bilthoven.

Landscape and Other Activities

Natuurbad De Biltse Duinen opened in Bilthoven in 1933. Around 2007, De Biltse Duinen was designated a municipal landscape monument; the entire area, including the golf course and adjacent campsite, was protected. The two dates refer to different events: the opening of the outdoor swimming pool and the later designation of the landscape area.

At Golfpark De Biltse Duinen, tee times can be booked online no more than two weeks in advance. If golf is part of your plans, check the current booking arrangements beforehand, as they may change.

Zwembad Brandenburg has a 25-metre pool. Every day, it welcomes lap swimmers, participants in aqua fitness classes, children taking swimming lessons and the local water polo club. Alongside the walking and landscape attractions, it offers a specific swimming and sports option. As facilities and programmes may change, check the operator’s latest information before visiting.

Discover more destinations: De Bilt, Westbroek, Groenekan.

Back to the main travel overview: De Bilt.