Travel Tips

Arnhem's nickname is "Park-town" and it truely is. Especially the Northern part (North of the river Rhine in the foresty hills of the Veluwe) it has been planned as a handshape. If the fingers represent the living, commercial and other building area's, then the space between them are green penetrating parks that stretch out from the forests of the Veluwe.
In the South, planned to be a vast area for housing, the planning of green is mostly don inside the (newer) neighborhoods. However, here to are parks and of a complete different style then the forests in the North. Here they are recognised as "polder"landscapes with a lot of canals and long lanes with single treerows on either side.

Just a few minutes walk from the shoppingstreets of the old citycentre, one reaches the green slopes of the Sonsbeekpark. This most beautiful of all parks in The netherlands (I dare say so (-: ) is consisting of three parts. The buildings of the old watermills (incl. the brandnew Dutch Watermuseum) and the white mansion (permanent Art-Expositions) green fields and foresty on the hills. The "Jansbeek" (Jan's creek) runs downhill from the Veluwe) and has been tamed by a few beautiful artificial waterfalls. One is built in such a way that you can walk underneath it. On top of a hill in the Eastern part is the "Belvedere" from where one can enjoy a magnificent view over the town. Under it is the "Round Meadow" where in summertime are concerts on Sundays. At the official entrance is a large field for deer.

Presikhaaf is the most open park in the Northern part of arnhem. It lies in the same-named neighborhood and shoppingarea on the Eastside of town. The park has many playgrounds, fields and some canals running through the green.
The surprise is here is the realy great children's-farm that is on the borders of the park. It house many small and larger farmanimals and children (privat or in groups) can see, touch and learn from the present animals.
Also the botanical gardens might be of intrest to a plantloving person. The herbs that are growing here are all of typical Dutch origine.

Just over the Southborder of Arnhem (for me only 15 minutes walking!) is the lake-area of Arnhem with many recreational options, like: swimming, windsurfing, walking, biking, sunbathing, kayaking, golf and dragonflying.
Though in summertime the crowds come in from all over the region, the park can be pleasantly calm in the off-season and on evenings. Joggers thankfully use the five kilometres circular for daily exercises.

are you walking in Sonsbeek-park and just cannot get enough of nature? Well, just cross the Parkroad and enter Zijpendaal park. This former estate is surrounding the castle of "Zypendale" and has a similar landscape as that of Sonsbeek: foresty hills and some open fields.

Arnhem is split in two parts, because the river Rhine is running here. While North of the riverwater the hills rise up, the South-parts of the town are protected by dikes. In between lay the riverlands, that once or twice each year are flooded by the highwater (snow melting in the Alps added with a lot of rainwater in spring or autumn). In this area a huge national park marks the actual Western centreland of Arnhem town. In the picture one looks from the dike at the Westborder of Arnhem towards the tower of the Eusebiustower in downtown! Can you imagine this to be a towncentre. It's realy magnificent. In the park are several walkingpaths and bikeroutes. An amazing variety in birds is taking in food for their migrations each year in these riverlands. Oh, by the way ... the picture at high water changes into water from the bottom of the photo until the churchtower! A true inland sea!

Arnhem is not only famous for it's parks, but also the livingarea's, especially the new ones in the South-part are rather open-wide and green. Walking/bikingpaths run through little green zones in between the houseblocks. Besides that many canals are to be found between the houses. Not only for environmental variation, but necessary for the drainage of our polder/riverlands so we keepour feet dry.

Arnhem has it's parks, but as if they are not enough already, throughout the North flanks heatherfields and wide forestry is stretching for many kilometres. Magnificent trees, beautiful flora and fauna in and around the national park "De Hoge Veluwe". The reason to stay longer then a day in Arnhem, to fully enjoy all it's treasures.