De Hoge Veluwe National Park has been on my list for a while now. I had been wanting to visit ever since I found out about the vast variety of landscapes the park had to offer. It was a beautiful sunny day and my friend, Joakim, happened to be in possession of an automobile. April was just beginning but it felt just like summer. The car he had rented was available for one last day so it only made sense that we went on an adventure.

Essential Information:

Located in the province of Gelderland, De Hoge Veluwe is quite some ways from Amsterdam. You can reach the park by taking the train to Apeldoorn, followed by a bus. However, I believe driving is the best option. It takes about an hour to get there and you have the option of bringing your car into the park. Tickets are priced at €11.10 per adult with an additional €7.85 should you wish to bring your car along. I recommend exploring with your car as the park is huge, encompassing an area of about 55 km².

Exploring De Hoge Veluwe:

By Car

After an hour on the highway, entering the park felt like a dream. It was as if we crossed the gates into an entirely different planet. My eyes struggled to keep pace with the oncoming visual stimulation. One moment, we were driving through a thick forest and the next, we were in the middle of what seemed like a desert. I do not have a driver’s license myself so I owe this amazing experience to my friend Joakim who was kind enough to bring me around.

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Ferris Bueller

Coming from the highway, we had to slow down to the park’s speed limit of 40km/h. I was thinking of Ferris Bueller as I sat in the back, listening to music and taking in my surroundings. These days, we spend so much of our time rushing around, trying to complete tasks, one after another that we barely take time to stop, and look around at how beautiful life is. I am guilty of this myself; my life has kind of become an endless to-do list ever since I entered university.

On that day, I took the chance to slow down and just look around. I must say, it was absolutely beautiful. We were just three guys from Amsterdam, Erik, Joakim and myself, wandering through nature. It was always refreshing to get away from the city; nature truly never disappoints. More than anything else, I remember the days where I said yes and did something completely out of my routine. Those memories shine the brightest in my mind.

By Bike

Biking is also a great way to explore De Hoge Veluwe as there are many white bikes available for free, all over the park. It is great for the environment too! Biking in the park was thoroughly enjoyable; it felt like there was no one else around. Biking on the crowded streets of Amsterdam can get a little stressful sometimes so biking in the park was a welcome change. I really liked the fact that the park was so huge; it was just you and nature, no interruptions.

Variety of Landscapes:

Grassland

The phrase, ‘flora and fauna’, never meant much to me until I visited De Hoge Veluwe. Not only was I surrounded by lush greenery, I also managed to catch a glimpse of a mob of deer, quietly grazing under the gentle sun. I also learned of the term, heath, which is usually dominated by shrubs and located close to forests, as pictured above. The deer seemed so happy, prancing under the sun. It made me feel like skipping and that is exactIy what I did.

I was surprised to find myself cycling by this lake. The water glistened under the bright sun, tempting me to take a dip. The variety of habitats which De Hoge Veluwe hosted was astonishing. Just when I thought there was nothing left to see, we would enter a clearing, boasting something completely new. The ducks in the lake were enjoying themselves, cooling off in the water. It would have been nice if I could take a swim myself.

Desert

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I was amazed once more as we drove past this sand rift. This scene in particular appealed to me the most. We disembarked and begun walking into this makeshift desert. After some minutes, we realised that we were surrounded by sand; there was sand in every direction. It seemed endless as I gazed out into the distance. I screamed at the top of my lungs and silence followed as soon as I ran out of breath. The rift was so vast and barren; you could make as much noise as you like and no one would hear you.

I had never seen any landscape quite like this in Singapore. It felt like we were on a whole other planet once again. I jumped around doing flying kicks while Erik and Joakim tossed sand in the air. It is quite liberating to just let go and do as you please, as if no one was looking. This time, there was no one looking. I think this is a great way to live: without concern for what other people think. Being carefree and being yourself is the greatest feeling in the world.

Forest

The contrast between the barren landscape of the desert and the dense forest was stark. I smiled as we biked among the trees. They still looked naked but you could tell that they were slowly starting to fill out again. The forest was one giant organism, constantly growing and changing, just like us. It brought me a sense of hope; I felt optimistic for the season. Breathing in fresh air and being surrounded by nature does wonders for the mind and the body.

Jachthuis Sint Hubertus

Could you imagine living here? That is exactly what the Kröller-Müller couple did. Anton Kröller and Helene Müller commissioned the building of this hunting lodge back in 1914. The couple is also responsible for founding De Hoge Veluwe National Park. They lived out the rest of their lives in this beautiful estate after construction was complete. It must have been awesome to have De Hogue Veluwe as your own backyard. There is also a museum in the park, displaying Helene Müller’s magnificent art collection.

I had such a good time at the park that I could not resist reading more about its history, back at home. I shall not go deeper into its long history in this post but do comment down below if you would like to hear more. Beautiful places like this always have an interesting backstory. I love when a place captivates me so much that I want to learn more about it.

I highly recommend visiting the park if you get the chance. It is definitely high up on my list of must-see places in the Netherlands. I hope you enjoyed this short piece about my adventure at De Hoge Veluwe and maybe you are inspired to check it out for yourself. Cheers guys. Have a great day ahead.