'Nederland' - ultimate destination for foreigners and other Netherlands Off The Beaten Path Tips

This little settlement should be the ultimate destination for foreigners visiting my country.
Nothing 'cooler' than saying, you have visited Nederland.

Nederland is situated about 5 km's from Blokzijl, the nearest town. Nowadays there are just a couple of farms and houses, surrounded by typical flat Dutch scenery of meadows, water, waving reed and very close to the National Park 'de Weerribben'. In the older days Nederland was much bigger and even had an own school.

On the moment you will not find the original place-name sign, because it has been stolen very often. Due to this the council decided not to replace it any longer. But there is a 'surrogate' sign, so you still can proof you have been to 'Nederland'.

The easiest way to visit Nederland is by car, but far more interesting is to make a bike tour.
Directions: www.viamichelin.com

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The royal history of Apeldoorn started in the year 1684, when King Stadtholder Willem III bought a castle close to the town (now called "Het Oude Loo"). Soon he considered it as too small and ordered to build a new "Palace Het Loo".

Palace Het Loo
Nowadays a National Museum which shows a lot of the history of our royal family and the inhabitants of the palace with decorated rooms, furniture, paintings and hunting trophies. The renewed gardens are also worth a visit.

Het Oude Loo
This is the old hunting castle, next to the more well-known Palace Het Loo; most probably already built in the 16th century. Nowadays it is used by the Dutch royal family for ceremonies and to accommodate visitors. The castle itself is closed for public. But the gardens (with lots of rhododendrons and azalea's) around the castle are open for public in April and May.

The Paleispark (Park of the Palace)
This is part of the so called 'Kroondomein Het Loo', a large forest behind the Palace Het Loo. The Paleispark was used by the royal family for walks and hunting. There is also a bathhouse on the shore of one of the romantic lakes. Everywhere are small streams and wells.

Elsewhere in Apeldoorn are a lot of other reminders of the royal family.
For instance the "Grote Kerk" is one of the oldest and largest churches in Apeldoorn and was and is a 'royal' church. Former Queen Wilhelmina often went to the Grote Kerk and nowadays there are still royal weddings and christening ceremonies. In front of the church is a statue of her.
In the church is a stained window. This very colourful window is a present to Queen Beatrix from the citizens and employers of Apeldoorn as a tribute for the 25 years of being queen.

On the main square of Apeldoorn is a statue of King William I and there is even a bike tour around the town called 'Oranjeroute'.

For more info see my Apeldoorn page.

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'Paleis Het Loo' in Apeldoorn is one of the most famous tourist sights in my country. But to add something special to your visit to this royal palace I would highly recommend: make a visit during Eastern, Queensday, Whit Sunday/Monday or on a Wednesday in June, July or August.

Only on these days the roof of the palace is open for public. A staircase through the attic of the palace will bring you to the roof pavilion. In the older days Queen Mary, wife of Stadtholder William III, used this place for a tea with her maids of honour.

I'm sure you will love the views over the baroque gardens with their fountains. A really unique experience !!

See also tip of 'Paleis Het Loo' on my Apeldoorn page.

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Website: www.paleishetloo.nl

On one of the coldest days of the year (2006) we went to the Netherlands Open Air Museum (Nederlands Openluchtmuseum) to experience ‘the Winter in the Museum’. Since a couple of years the museum is also open during the winter season, which means from early December till mid January (see for more info below or on the website of the museum).

During this time there are special winter activities in the museum. The most remarkable is the outside skating ring, where one can enjoy ice skating and it is no problem if you don’t have your own skates, you can borrow them free of charge.

Every day there are different (winter) activities like demonstrations of old Dutch crafts, singing of a choir in a church, a procession with lanterns for children and baking bread on open fires. We saw also a movie with pictures of some real Dutch winters.

Of course a lot of the old buildings, farmhouses and mills are open and can be visited during the opening hours. And walking around we met some ‘inhabitants’ doing their daily jobs. The old grocery shop was open and in the bakery we had an ‘oliebol’, a Dutch delicacy during this time of the year.

!! Be aware on Boxing Day it can be overcrowded on some places !!

Nederlands Openluchtmuseum, Schelmseweg 89, Arnhem.
Directions:
- by car - signposted from the motorway
- by public bus line 3 from the railway/bus station.
Openinghours:
- from 5 December 2008 to 18 January 2009: 11.00 noon till 7.00 pm
(for exceptions and other seasons see website)
Admission 2009/2010:
- adults: € 14,- and children € 9,80

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Website: www.openairmuseum.nl

Visiting Bronkhorst almost nobody will say this village is a real city with 'city rights'. In a matter of fact this settlement became these rights already in the year of 1482. The little church at the square even dates from 1344 !!
But the 'city' did never increase and has almost the same size as in the middle ages. A lot of buildings are from these period and walking around on the cobble stoned streets we always feel if we are walking back in time.

Bronkhorst is situated on the eastern bank the river IJssel, between the towns of Zutphen and Doesburg. The most original way to come to Bronkhorst is by using the small ferry (pedestrians, bikes and cars) over the river from Brummen.

Just stroll along the narrow streets, take a look in one of the galleries, visit the Dickens Museum, do some shopping, walk to the old Jewish Cemetery or have a coffee or tea on one of the side walk cafe's.

Directions: www.viamichelin.com

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Elburg is a very old fortified city, already built in the 14th century. The city has not changed a bit since then. It is situated between its walls in a square outline with straight narrow streets; the old houses, churches and other buildings are crammed together.

We have been several times in Elburg and it is always a pleasure to stroll through the cobble stoned streets, along all the monuments. Besides the city offers some nice shops and side walk café’s for a cup of coffee or a lunch.

If you are first time visitor I highly recommend going to the Visitor Information Centre (VVV) in the middle of the city. They do have a brochure (€ 1,75) with a very interesting walk. So you won’t miss any of the most important monuments.
If possible try to ascend the tower of the “St. Nicolaaskerk”. From the top there is a lovely view over the city and the neighbourhood.
Attention: the stairs are very steep, winding and narrow !!!

On your walk you will see the “Vischpoort”; behind this city gate is the harbour. In the former days Elburg was also a fishing village. Nowadays there are just pleasure yachts and some old restored fishing boats.

Directions: www.viamichelin.com
Information: VVV - Visitor Information Centre

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Phone: 0525 - 681520
Website: www.vvvelburg.nl

Just outside the town of ‘s Heerenberg, close to the border with Germany, we found on one of our bike trips through the Netherlands castle ‘Huis Bergh’. This castle is supposed to be one of the biggest and most important castles in my country. Its history goes back to the 13th century; the most important parts of the castle still existing today date from the 14th, 15th and 17th century.
The castle has been destroyed a couple of times, but each time it has been restored; for the last time in the year of 1941. In that time the castle belonged to mister J.H. van Heek, a very rich industrialist.

Inside
The castle is famous for its art collection (mainly early Italian paintings, a lot of historical portraits ), weapon room, an exhibition of the Bergh mint and much more, among them. We could visit the castle on our own and there were room stewards to explain the many treasures we saw. For temporary expositions and special events (for instance around Christmas time) see website.
The (main) opening hours are: May – October: 12.30 – 4.30 pm. Also during some school holidays.
Entrance admission: adults € 7,- and children € 4,50

The old Mint House can only be visited by groups, so we just saw the outside of this building.

(It is forbidden to take pictures inside the building, so ….)

Outside
We biked, on a very quiet pace, around the castle over the embankment with really great and unexpected views on the castle. It is just if you are travelling in the middle ages, specially in and around the old Mint House and the church with its old graveyard.
Off course you can also walk and don’t forget the Plantage, a forest with very old oaks, next to the embankment.

We had a cup of tea in the former Coach House with a great view on the entrance archway to the castle.

Directions by car: www.viamichelin.com
Public transport: Bus 24 to 's-Heerenberg from NS-station Doetinchem (the Netherlands) or DB-station Emmerich (Germany).

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Website: www.huisbergh.nl

Klein Amsterdam means 'Little Amsterdam'.

Almost every tourist to the Netherlands will visit Amsterdam, but I think nobody ever has been to 'Klein Amsterdam'. And even my fellow countrymen hardly know where to find 'KA'. So it is rather challenging to visit both Amsterdam and Klein Amsterdam while visting the Netherlands.

Although many cities in the Netherlands call themself 'Little Amsterdam' there is just one small settlement, which has the official name of 'Klein Amstrerdam' and it has also some real signs with its name.

In all respects it is a completely different world between 'Klein Amsterdam' and her big sister. In a very rural setting between the villages of Klarenbeek, Voorst and Hall do live 30 families with a total of just 100 people and there is just one shop. The settlement is concentrated in a triangle of roads: Heuvelderweg, Gravenstraat and Diederikweg.
Nobody could tell me why this settlement is called 'Klein Amsterdam'. Most likely some people from Amsterdam have lived here in the past, who have disappeared later.

Best way to visit 'Klein Amsterdam' is by car or even better with a bike. Head to the village of Klarenbeek (about 12 km's from Apeldoorn) on the main road is a signpost to Zutphen/Voorst/Hall. Follow the 'Hessenallee' later 'Polveensweg' for about 3 km's. On a crossing - with lots of oak trees- after 3 km's turn left into the 'Gravenstraat' and you will see 'Klein Amsterdam'.
(direction: www.viamichelin.com)

Just outside the settlement - follow the 'Diederikweg' and 'Weg over het Hondsveld' for a couple of hundred metres - is a 'farm' De Hommel, where coffee and (high)tea is served. Perfect place to relax in a beautiful garden. Opening hours: March till October - 10.00 till 19.00 hours. (www.koffiehommel.nl)

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Website: www.kleinamsterdam.tk

As my country is rather flat, there are not many waterfalls in streams and rivers in the Netherlands. But not far away of Apeldoorn you will find the ‘Niagara of the Veluwe’. This waterfall in the so called ‘Vrijenbergspreng’ has a fall of 15 metres (in 4 steps). As a matter of fact there is a second waterfall upstream with two steps and about 10 metres high.

Both waterfalls are situated in a ‘spreng’, which is a dug water course. These man made artificial brooks on the Veluwe stream for kilometres from a dug spring with groundwater to the end, usually another (natural) river or canal.
It is rather easily to recognise these ‘sprengen’: in the beginning (near the artificial spring) having often steep and deep slopes and always being as straight as possible

The ‘Vrijenbergspreng’ - with the two waterfalls - was dug in 1825 and the water flew into the ‘Apeldoorns Kanaal’ to keep the water level high enough for shipping traffic. It has a length of about 6 km’s ands flows through a beautiful landscape.

Information
The waterfall is located close to the road between Beekbergen and Loenen, about 10 km’s south of Apeldoorn.
Look out for the sign: “P waterval”. Accessible by, car, bike and bus (line 119 from Apeldoorn, stop ‘Vrijenberg’). The waterfall is about 200 metres from the car park; for the smaller one follow the ‘spreng’ upstream for about 1 /1/2 km’s.
There is no admission fee.

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Castle Staverden isn’t a real castle, but more a manor. In popular speech it is still called ‘castle’ because of its history of more than 800 years and the fact that four buildings have been built on this place. The first one was a hunting lodge used by the counts and dukes of Gelre, dating back to 1298.
The same year Staverden became city rights - granted by German King Rudolf to count Reinout of Gelderland - and nowadays most probably is the smallest city on earth with its 40 inhabitants living in the manor and farmhouses of the estate. The present ‘castle’ was built in 1905.

Although living rather close to this castle we never visited it till one of these lovely sunny autumn days end of October 2009. From the car park we walked in the restored 17th century garden of the castle, surrounded by a moat and a stream called ‘Staverdense Beek’. We passed the peacock statue, an ice cellar and an old grave having a tombstone with inscription ‘Leonora 1353’, before reaching the buildings existing of the former stables and the renovated house, which is not open for public.

In another corner of the garden stand an old water mill and a barn. The water mill itself is not open for visitors, but we could come very close and had a view of the water wheel. The barn has been altered into a visitor center with all kinds of information of Castle Staverden and the estate and a small shop selling gifts and local authentic products.

Castle and garden are surrounded by streams, a pond and old striking trees (during our ‘fall visit’ with colourful golden leaves), being part of an estate which is situated in the middle of one of the most beautiful forests of the Netherlands. We finished our stroll around Castle Staverden on the terrace of the former Orangery (since April 2009 a café/restaurant) enjoying our coffee and the beautiful entourage.

(It is also possible to make some longer walks along marked trails - will do it during a next visit. If following the red or yellow posts you will see the white peacocks. These animals have always been kept on Castle Staverden, the reason why it is also called ‘Peacock Castle’. Dukes of Gelre used to wear the feathers on their helmets.)
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Direction
From A1 Apeldoorn - Amersfoort, > turn off Kootwijk > direction Harderwijk > third roundabout directiion Staverden (Gardenseweg) > turn right Staverdense weg > Castle Staverden, Staverdenseweg 283, Staverden.

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Website: www.mooigelderland.nl/index.php?pageID=3281&n=&categoryID=1869&itemID=361715
Other Contact: www.kasteel-staverden.nl