5 x culture experiences at the Veluwe!

Going on holiday to the Veluwe means going out and exploring the surroundings of Harderwijk! The Veluwe is not only known for its beautiful nature but also offers a wealth of cultural experiences. For lovers of art, history, and architecture, the Veluwe is a true paradise for culture sniffing. The villages and towns are all within easy driving distance of our bungalow park in Harderwijk. Get caught up in all the beauty the Veluwe has to offer! Explore the region's rich history by visiting historic castles, Hanseatic towns, and fascinating museums.

#1 Castles and Estates

Anyone delving into the history of Gelderland will encounter a wealthy array of rulers. From the 18th century, the wealthy bourgeoisie also had dozens of country estates built here, in the region's most beautiful locations. In the vicinity of holiday park Het Verscholen Dorp, you can visit a few. You can even follow a route by car that will lead you through the most impressive natural landscapes of the area. For example, you can visit Castle de Essenburgh in Hierden or Castle Staverden. From Staverden you can take the scenic route via Elspeet, the Elspeetse Heide, Vierhouten, and the Crown Estates to Vaassen where you will find Castle de Cannenburch an original medieval castle located in an old Veluwe park forest, surrounded by meadows and former fishponds. From Vaassen it is a short drive to Apeldoorn where you will find the impressive Palace Het Loo which has been the home of the royal family for 300 years. In Visit Veluwe's interactive map, you can very easily see the location of these 4 castles.

#2 Museums, culture in the nature

Besides castles, Hanseatic towns, and museums, the Veluwe also offers a range of other cultural attractions. At the Veluwe, there are no less than 21 museums! There is certainly something of interest for everybody. In Harderwijk, for example, you have the Stadsmuseum Harderwijk (city museum) where new exhibitions are constantly on display, but also the Marius Van Dokkum Museum. In the Hanseatic town of Hattem, you will find the Nederlands Bakkerij Museum (Dutch bakery museum), great fun to visit with children. Of course, the well-known museums at the Veluwe are the Kröller-Müller Museum (located in the beautiful national park De Hoge Veluwe) and the CODA museum in Apeldoorn. A museum not to be missed is the Nederlands Openluchtmuseum (dutch open-air museum), where you will be taken on a journey through a period from two hundred years ago to the present day. It's like the people in the museum seem to have walked right out of the past!

A complete overview of all museums in the area can be found here.

#3 Hanseatic heritage

When Amsterdam and Rotterdam were still small villages during the Middle Ages, our Hanseatic cities in the eastern Netherlands had already developed into powerful trading centers. Yesterday, today, and the future. They meet in the Hanseatic cities. Deventer, Doesburg, Elburg, Harderwijk, Hasselt, Hattem, Kampen, Zutphen en Zwolle: nine pearls in the east 😊
During the Hanseatic Year 2023, from 1 April to 31 December 2023, nine Hanseatic cities in the eastern Netherlands will be dedicated to the centuries-old Hanseatic legacy. For nine months, the nine Hanseatic towns will be packed with events! From Het Verscholen Dorp you can visit them all, check our Hanseatic tips here.

#4 War history

The Veluwe, like the rest of Gelderland, was on the front line during World War II. There are very many stories here about the Second World War in many different facets. On the Veluwe, history is remembered, realized, and lived and freedom is celebrated. In the dense Veluwe forests near Vierhouten is Het Verscholen Dorp. On the "Pas Op weg", a secret village was built where about 80 people were hidden for more than 1 year. At the reception, we have a cycling route that will take you past Het Verscholen Dorp. Other places worth visiting are the Fields of Honour (Het Ereveld in Loenen) and the Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek. Are you planning a visit to Amsterdam? The Anna Frank house in Amsterdam is an absolute must-visit!