Hoge Veluwe National Park – All You Need To Know

The Hoge Veluwe National Park is one of the most popular Netherland parks which is known for its serenity, high sand dunes, and thick forests. This Dutch national park is present near the province of Gelderland which is near the cities of Arnhem, Wageningen, Ede, and Apeldoorn.

It is also known by its name of National Park De Hoge Veluwe and occupies a total area of around 13,750 acres. This means that if you are planning on heading to this natural wonder then there is a lot for you to see. This also means a lot of confusion for you if you are going without proper planning.

However, you should not worry about it anymore because we have got your back. Today, we will be looking at everything that you need to know about the Hoge Veluwe National Park. From the history of the place to the entrance ticket, we have got you covered on the information front!

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History Of The Hoge Veluwe National Park

The Hoge Veluwe National Park is the only national park in the Netherlands which is privately owned and is fully enclosed. This national park was established by Anton Kroller and his wife Helene Kroller-Muller as private property in 1909. Till 1929, there was no major development to be reported as the entire park was under some major construction.

During that time, wildlife was being imported and hunting lodges and fences were being set up. Hendrik Petrus Berlage, who was a prominent Dutch architect, designed the hunting lodge which was known as St. Hubertus Hunting Lodge. On the other hand, the building of the museum inside the park is because of Helene Kroller-Muller as she was an avid art collector and was quite set on the working of a museum.

Sadly, the economic conditions of this couple worsened and they were unable to build the museum and keep the property. In 1935, the State of the Netherlands again begun the work of completing the museum after the art collections were donated to them by the couple. Further, the working of the entire park was passed on to a foundation.

During that time, it was the second national park in the Netherlands and is right now the only national park which asks for an entrance fee! This is probably the reason why this national park is counted as being one of the most popular Netherlands tourist attractions.

Highlights Of The Hoge Veluwe National Park

When there is any discussion about the Netherlands points of interest then the Hoge Veluwe National Park always makes it to the list. This is simply because of the fact that this national park is filled with many highlights which were created by Mother Nature during the last ice age. In this section, we will look at some of those highlights, which are mentioned below.

The diversity of landscape is probably the most important thing which the Hoge Veluwe National Park is most famous for. By visiting this park, you get to experience the joy of being in a dense forest, sand dunes, and heaths at the same time! If you are in the national park then make sure to visit the large area of sandy soil which was created during the ice age. The beautify scenery only gets interrupted by the moraines standing at a height of 100 meters tall on the east and south. It is also quite interesting to note that the present look of the park is inspired by the middle ages.

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Where there is such beautiful scenery then it can be said without a doubt that animals and birds will also flock there. Currently, there are many observation centres and points located inside the Hoge Veluwe national park where visitors can observe red deer, wild pigs, roe deer, a species of wild sheep, mouflon, magpies, thrushes, jays, finches, woodpeckers, and titmice. If you are planning on especially visiting to observe the animals then we suggest that you go either plan your trip during early morning or late evening.

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Most of the grounds in this park are flat which means that you can also enjoy the beauties of this park while traveling on a bike. There are also around 1,700 bikes within the park which you can use without paying extra. You can also rent a bike if you wish to hold on to it throughout your stay. Bikes for individuals with special needs can also be arranged without any extra cost. There are also many rambling routes and footpaths which you can follow for hiking.

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We have already told you about the home which Anton and Helene Kroller-Muller wished to build and if you want to see that home then make sure to check it. You will definitely be able to observe that the house was built with both modernity and luxury in mind. This is quite fitting considering the fact that the Hoge definition actually means important or influential.

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At the Kroller-Muller Museum, you can gaze at some of the finest works of art produced during the 19^th and 20^th century. You can also visit the glass extension of the museum which was later added during 1977. There is also a specific sculpture garden which has been developed after the 1950s.

Near the Kroller-Muller museum is the Museonder. This is the first European underground museum which was opened in 1993. This museum takes all visitors on a unique journey. It focuses on exhibits once-native wildlife and the currently existing underground organisms.

Things To Know Before Going To The Hoge Veluwe National Park

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If you are planning on visiting the Hoge Veluwe National Park then there are a few things which you should be aware of. And those things are mentioned below.

Place To Start With

Begin your adventure from the visitor centre. At the centre, you can get some of the best tips for getting the most out of your trip. They will also guide you for the features of the park which you should explore.

Three Entrances

The national park is accessible through three entrances including Houtkampweg 9, Otterlo; Koningweg 17, Schaarsbergen; and Houtkampweg 13, Hoenderloo.

Dining Options

There are many dining options which are available within the national park from which you can choose from.

Camping

There are also on-site camping facilities available for visitors within the national park.

Entry Tickets

The cost of entrance for an adult is 9.30 euro and 4.65 euro for kids.