For those who cannot choose between forest, water and wide views, the Dutch landscape has a perfect solution: where the Veluwe and the Achterhoek meet, there is a lovely area where you can discover something new every day. And that's what you want during your holiday right? Annemieke has been living in this area for a year now and will share the coolest spots. Read along about squirrels, castles, escaperooms and tasty beers.
Camping in the Netherlands: the ideal family holiday
It is quite amazing how a global crisis has had to cause us to suddenly see how beautiful our own country is. I myself had discovered this before the whole thing. When my husband and children (without me) went away more and more often with the tent, I began to suffer a bit of FOMO. How did they have a great time camping? Camping sites are the worst thing imaginable, aren't they? I went along, thought it was terrible. I went along one more time and thought, gut nice anyway and after... well, my friends still joke about it. How you can go from camping hater to lover in a few years and then also decide to swap the Randstad for a house on the edge of the woods; I did it!
The Veluwe: a versatile part of the Netherlands
When people think of the Veluwe, they quickly think of the part east of Utrecht. Yet it is larger than we think and that is good, because this way there is enough space for everyone to enjoy recreation. The Veluwezoom is the largest continuous stretch of forest in the Netherlands. The Posbank is one of the better-known stretches and beautiful with lots of heather and hills. Precisely because it is well-known, it is also often crowded. Want to walk through a slightly quieter area? Then drive on to Laag-Soeren and Loenen, where you can also walk straight into the woods. This area is home to many red deer, roe deer, boar and, of course, squirrels. You can see them best in the morning and evening, but then you have to whisper. Bring binoculars! Near Loenen, by the way, there is also a kind of waterfall, artificially constructed, but with your eyes closed you can still enjoy the sound of splashing water. In Laag-Soeren you find streams running through the woods, called ‘sprengen’ (springs). Foreign scenes! But in the Netherlands, nice right?
Achterhoek and IJsselvallei: cycle tour of farm shops
To the east of the Veluwezoom lies the river IJssel and next to it the Achterhoek. This area is perfect for cycling trips. Do find out in advance where you can take a ferry across the IJssel and bring both debit card and cash for the crossing. Because a cycling route is even more fun if you can stop every now and then to get something tasty to eat and drink (that way, you also motivate any grumbling children, another eight kilometres to an ice cream!). Which is also really cool: plan your route past farm shops.
Although it seems very tempting to jump into the IJssel, it is safer to pick a swimming pool or recreational lake for some water fun. Along the river IJssel, of course, there is plenty to do. The towns of Doesburg and Bronckhorst are next to it and there you can sit on a terrace and stroll past old houses. The Forestry Commission has conveniently listed all the sights for you.
Action in the tent: the best (family) outings during a holiday in the Veluwe region
Are you done with forest and countryside bike rides for a while and want action in your tent? Then consider the following:
- In Dieren is the oldest escaperoom in the Netherlands: will you escape from the exciting coal mine (10+)? The Water Museum in Arnhem also has an escaperoom (12+).
- Perhaps not as exciting, but a lot of fun, especially with children is the Open Air Museum in Arnhem. You can do archery, ride in old trams, play lots of games and drink house beers.
- More museums in the area include the Mustard Museum in Doesburg, the Water museum in Arnhem, Airborne museum near Oosterbeek.
- Fond of castles? I get that! In the Achterhoek, there are several to choose from. Check out the castles here!
- At The Games & Inventory children can let loose on all kinds of crazy play equipment and get involved themselves. In the same village, by the way, there is also a very large playground with a small go-kart track. See more about the Animal Playground.
- Between Dieren and Apeldoorn, the Veluwsche Steam Train. Seriously fun and 100% professionally run by volunteers. Go!
Burgundy enjoyment on the Veluwe: sleep and eat well here!
While you can visit these areas just fine for a day or weekend, a week (or more) in the holidays is of course lovely too.
- Want to sleep in a monumental, small-scale city villa and eat well too? Then book a room at Villa Wanrooy in Doetinchem and pick up local delicacies at the accompanying food shop Van Mien.
- Eating in the forest, you don't just do it with your own picnic basket, you can also do it at a table. At Buitenplaats Beekhuizen sits restaurant Woodz and at buitenplaats Koningsweg eat a tasty pizza at Garage Royal.
- Want to sleep in a cottage in the woods with plenty of fun things for kids to do? Then take a look at the Jutberg in Low-Soeren, Beekhuizen country estate near Velp and Droompark Beekbergen.
- At the beer brewery near Bronckhorst you can drink tasty beers and take away.
- About Nature Camping Lolotte (also a tip), has been written before.
Sleep, eat and drink coffee at Van Mien.
More from-in-Netherlands tips from thegreenlist.nl
- Also see: Cuber Suites: nature cottage in the Veluwe with all the luxury
- Also see: BoerenBed on the Veluwe: ideal weekend break with kids
- Also see: Hof van Saksen review: luxury holiday park in Drenthe
Photo credits: deverhalenmaker.nl, VisitVeluwe, Van Mien, AlkeMade.
