Veluwe

Part of Netherlands › Gelderland

The Veluwe is the largest contiguous nature reserve in the Netherlands: more than a thousand square kilometers of forest, heathland and gravelly soil between Arnhem, Apeldoorn, Ede and Harderwijk. For cyclists, it is one of the few places in the country where you can climb mountains and drive for hours on unpaved roads.

Why cycle on the Veluwe?

• The Posbank and the Veluwezoom: the most famous climbs in East-Netherlands, with views over the IJssel valley.
• The Crown Estate of Loo, which has recently been partially open to mountain bikers on designated routes.
• National Park De Hoge Veluwe, with the white bicycles and the Kröller-Müller Museum.
• Endless amounts of dirt roads and forest paths: when it’s dry, loose sand; when it rains, it’s actually good to drive on.

Where are you driving?

• Veluwezoom and Posbank. The southeastern edge near Rheden, Rozendaal and Dieren is the steepest part of the Veluwe. The climb to the Posbank is one of the most famous in the Netherlands, and around it are the Zijpenberg and the Emmapyramide.
• Around Arnhem and Oosterbeek. Along the Rhine there are short, treacherous slopes such as the Westerbouwing, with views over the floodplains.
• Ede and the west. Around Ede, the Wekerom Sand and the Ginkelse Heide you will find many sandy paths and heathland. From here it is not far to the Utrecht Hills.
• Apeldoorn and the Crown Domain. Around Paleis Het Loo are endless forests. On designated routes you can cycle through them on the gravity bike.
• Speulder- and Sprielder Forest. The fairy tale forest between Garderen and Ermelo, with winding beech trees and quiet forest paths.

Race bike or gravel bike?

Both. With the race bike you ride over the paved roads and bike paths of the Veluwezoom and between the villages, with the Posbank as a fixed reference point. With the gravel bike you really get into the forest: the Veluwe has hundreds of kilometers of gravel roads and forest paths. After a dry period the sand is slippery and hard; after a rain it’s just nice and hard. Stick to the paths that are open to cyclists. Part of the Veluwe is a silence area or only for hikers.

Good to know

• National Park De Hoge Veluwe has its own opening hours and charges an entrance fee, also for cyclists.
• In the autumn and winter, temporary closures apply in some forests due to hunting or the rutting season of the red deer. Please pay attention to the signs.
• On beautiful weekends, the Posbank is very busy. On weekdays or early in the morning, you can almost have the climb to yourself.

When are you leaving?

From March to October. In August the heather blooms; in the autumn the forest turns color and it is at its most beautiful.

How do you get there?

By train to Arnhem, Ede-Wageningen or Apeldoorn, or by car in about an hour from the Randstad.