Landscape - "Nederrijn" = The Lower Rhine and other Arnhem, Netherlands Things to Do Tips

Arnhem and the Rhine go a long way back, but not many know that Arnhem didn't start along the Rhine at all. The first settlements were along the little stream called "Jansbeek" that now-a-days still runs through the Sonsbeek-park. Only in the middel ages the citizens of Arnhem decided that their growing town should be on the banks of the river Rhine that was running few kilometres South. The Arnhemmers started digging a wide curved canals thus bringing the river to it's gates. Now also a harbour could be built and the city florished like never before.

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Website: www.vvvarnhem.nl

The innercity can be best visited by parking on the Old Market or getting out the Central Station. As focussingpoint one can easily use the Eusebius churchtower, that is peaking out over the rooftops.
For starters: Go by elevator up to the top of the Eusebius-churchtower in the middle of the town. From here you can enjoy a magnificent view over Arnhem, the forests with the penetrating green fingers and the river Rhine, winding it's way through the wide riverlands.

The Old Citycentre, though totally destroyed in September 1944 (The Battle of Arnhem) is restored in original way and so many hostorical buildings can be seen in and around the central squares in the neighborhood of the Eusebiuschurch. Like the old Cityhall, nicknamed the "Devils house" as for the statues that are hanging on the outerwalls. The Old "Waag", the building where the weighing took place of products sold on the Old Market. In the corner of this square one sees the only remaining citygate and furthermore in modern styles the Palace of Justice and Hall of Province.In the (shopping)streets one should not forget to once and a while look up. The houses can have surprising facades.

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A trip on the river Rhine is a very wonderful thing. The green fields and forests that gently pass by, while the sun is shining on you and a cool breeze is going through your hair.
There are several possibilities. Rivercruises from Rotterdam to Switzerland anchor in Arnhem, but also short daytrips are possible from here. To Nijmegen, Zutphen or Kleve (Germany) for example, or just a couple of hours floating by my hometown.
On the Rhinekay near the "new" bridge is the largest shippingline in Arnhem: Heijmen. On the other side of the bridge as well as on the other bank of the river, there's: Scheers.
About the first you can read more under "local customs".

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Directions: Cross the new bridge in the old neighborhood of the "Praets".
Website: http://www.rederijscheers.nl/

Main touristic attractions:
Burger's Zoo, Safari, Bush, Desert and Ocean (www.burgerszoo.nl)
Netherlands Open Air Museum (www.openluchtmuseum.nl)
Nationaal Park De Hoge Veluwe (www.hogeveluwe.nl)
inside this park is the Kröller-Muller art museum (among the statues and paintings a large Van Gogh-collection, see www.kmm.nl)

Furthermore the specified museums of Arnhem:
Museum about the Battle of Arnhem (a bridge too far, www.airbornemuseum.nl)
Netherlands Winemuseum (www.wijnmuseum.nl)
Modern Art Museum Arnhem (www.mmarnhem.nl)
Bronbeek, military museum Dutch Indies (www.landmacht.nl/cultuur_en_historie/musea/content/museum_bronbeek.html)
Historical Museum Arnhem (www.hmarnhem.nl)
The churchtower: A unique panoramalift inside a churchtower. In the tower hangs the largest carrillon (total collection of bells that play there songs around the hour) of world and one of the largest bells in Europe (9 tons)

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Arnhem is famous for it's parks, but by far the most beutiful park is the Sonsbeek park. This green zone penetrating the heart of the town so far as the flanks of the citycentre, has a magnificent variety in landscape. Forest and fields are combined with some of the most picturesque monumental places within Arnhem. Highlight as well is the waterfall, that you can cross over, as well as under. A small corridor runs down the stones and from a watery room beneath, you watch the world outside through the falling water. A very romantic place that is as well often used for marriage-pictures.

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Within the many parks in Arnhem, the beauty actually lays in the presence of water. Sonsbeek and Zijpendaal parks (the largest within the town's centre) have the Jansbeek (Jan's creek) running through it "falling down" from the higher grounds of the "Veluwe". Within the ponds that have been constructed in the running of this creek, fountains make the water even more present then it already is. And ... don;t forget that all the green that's surrounding you wouldn't excist if it was not for the water!

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Arnhem has many fountains. most beautiful are the ones along the Jans Binnen- and Buitensingels, where the towncanal used to be. In the centre is also the Aku-fountin famous for it's cooling down in the summertime (many people just hop in for refreshement). Largest fountain in amounts of water in Europe is the fountain that is in the centre of the "Blue Waves" underneath the "new" bridge (Roermondsplein-brug or officially Nelson Mandela-brug). When at full power it is really an impressive view, but the bad thing is that reaching the fountain is also very difficult. One has to cross very busy roads with fast traffic.

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Arnhem is surrounded by three different kind of landscapes and this can be called quite a unique privilige. Arnhem has to the South the lowlands of the "Betuwe", flat riverlands with a lot of water. North of town is the "Veluwe" with it's beautiful forests and heatherfields, situated on a raised soft slooping land (hills until 100 metres high). Somewhat to the East one will find the wonderful agricultural and mixed landscapes of the "Achterhoek" with it's many legends and old traditions. Yes, Arnhem has it all ...

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Arnhem is best to be remembered when viewing the town from either the new or the old bridge. Then one sees the river Rhine and watches over the buildings along the Rhine-kays towards the Eusebius-churchtower that summits above everything else. Towards the South the green riverlands that are a huge contrast to the citycentres houses and officeblocks. To the West one sees the KEMA-telecommunicationstower rising out the green hills that stretch out to the "Veluwe"-forests. Next to it is the dome of the prison clearly visible. To the East one might see with clear weather the third bridge in a wide curve crossing the Rhine.

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Where once there used to be the old city wall and around that the defensive canal, now-a-days cars are running along the circular road around Arnhem centre. One way against the clocks direction. But luckely Arnhem made this road wide and the middle part green. Trees and flowerbeds, as well as fields with ponds and especially wonderful fountains.

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