Bart's Best of: tips for eating, sleeping and things to do on the Veluwe
In our opinion, talking about the most beautiful places in the Netherlands without mentioning the Veluwe is equivalent to starting the weekend without wine. Or cook while your favorite restaurant is just around the corner. You don't do that. And an entire website about the most beautiful places anywhere? That deserves its own Barts Best Off article about the country's largest and most beautiful piece of greenery. Barts Best of the Veluwe, because spending a day (and if possible also a night (or two)) between the forest and the heath is simply good for you.
We'll start with sleeping on the Veluwe, then a few addresses where you can go at any time and if you scroll all the way down, you'll find a number of top favorites where you can sit down for a few hours.
Sleeping wing
Okay, we're going to start our Veluwe story with an address that you may not be able to go to right away when you read this... Sorry about that, because Bohemia, an off the grid pop-up nature restaurant with luxurious accommodation tents on the Veluwe, is truly an amazing experience. Anyway, only when they are there, which is only in the summer months. But read everything about Bohiem here and then save it immediately for next summer (tip: sign up for the Bohiem newsletter because the spots fill up very quickly every season).
The Veluwe is all about relaxing, recharging, and chilling out, preferably surrounded by nature. Enter Thermen Bussloo. Here, you'll stay in a delightful hotel with direct access to one of the Netherlands' finest wellness destinations. You can roll straight from your bed into the spa.
Unique to Hotel Thermen Bussloo? The view. On one side, the serene Bussloo Lake, on the other, forests as far as the eye can see. The spa itself boasts more than 16 (!) saunas, 7 (herbal) baths, 3 relaxation areas, a luxurious beauty department, and a beautiful sauna garden overlooking Bussloo Lake. They also offer a comprehensive program of experiences with meditations, rituals, and infusions. Tip: the Sauna Theater, a blend of scents, stories, and gentle infusions, is an experience in itself.
Hungry? There are three restaurants: Restaurant Intens: luxurious, pure, and flavorful; Restaurant N-Joy: fresh, surprising wellness food; and Lounge: relaxed, cozy, and delicious. Ugh, that requires a walk. But hey, luckily, nature is all around you. Whether you'll even get around to it is another matter.
Located in the middle of the most famous nature reserve in the Netherlands, the Veluwe Noma. So Noma Veluwe. Twelve completely different tiny houses in the forest. Each house has its own look, feel and atmosphere, because the twelve different houses all have a different owner. We feel a monthly getaway arrive. Save all twelve, that idea. Each tiny house, each with a Scandinavian name, has two bedrooms with room for two people. Ideal to go with kids, friends, family or just enjoy luxury with your love escape. They are compact houses, but the height makes them feel oh so wonderfully spacious. So much for the 'tiny' part of the houses. Within walking distance of the houses you will find a nice boardwalk at Landgoed Tongeren. A beautifully varied nature reserve with heath, forest and meadows. Fresh outdoor air is what counts. The Noma houses are located in the quiet De Veldkamp recreation park, which is located in the middle of the Veluwe. Noma Veluwe
Fancy a weekend immersed in nature? Then Veluwe Hotel De Beyaerd is highly recommended. Nestled in the heart of the Veluwe, surrounded by lush greenery, you'll feel like you're the only one in the world. This is partly because Hotel De Beyaerd is a pavilion hotel, meaning it consists of several buildings. To reach these buildings, you stroll through the woodland garden, past birdsong, and then return to the main building for dinner or breakfast.
It's also great to book with a larger group (up to 12 people), as there's a private villa right outside. It's a wonderful place to relax, both in autumn – with the colorful leaves and that stunning view – and in summer, when you can enjoy the outdoor pool.
In short: actually a tip from Flip to come and visit every season Veluwe Hotel De Beyaerd.
Can't choose between all those beautiful lodges, tiny houses, forest huts and holiday parks on the Veluwe? Then The Holiday Guide Your best friend. Here you'll find more than 400 holiday parks in the Netherlands – from cozy forest cottages to luxury waterfront villas – all clearly presented. Scroll, filter, and plan away, so you can book your next weekend getaway in nature without any hassle. Forest, heathland, or a mix of both? With The Holiday Guide you will always find your perfect Veluwe outing.
Letting the kids run wild: a regular occurrence during the weekend. Because sitting inside all day doesn't make anyone happy - and certainly not a bunch of busy toddlers. We prefer to settle down in a place that is fun for both children and parents, because let's be clear: it is also our weekend. So it's nice that there are places like this The Owl Forest in Lunteren exist. Het Uilenbos is a cozy restaurant in the middle of the forests of Lunteren (in the Veluwe) and the perfect base for after a wonderful walk through nature, but also very suitable for sitting directly on the terrace without a walk. The Uilenbos is originally a pancake house that has been around for seventy years and that is just as amazing as it sounds. On the fully fenced site (nice and safe) you will find a giant indoor and outdoor playground. With playhouses for the little ones, a car track for the toddlers and a cable car for the little ones. Read more about the Owl Forest
At Van der Valk Hotel de Cantharel In Apeldoorn you can do much more than just sleep. In fact, you barely have time to sleep because there are too many other things to do. You can fly over the Veluwe, watch films or sing very loudly (and out of tune) in private cinema rooms and the karaoke room, and eat delicious food at Bistro Martinus and Huisje James. At Bistro Martinus you can enjoy dishes based on French cuisine. And then there is Huisje James, in the middle of the green. You get there via a long gravel path (the heel wearers among us get a lift with the golf cart), you are then welcomed with a glass of bubbles and then it doesn't matter whether you sit inside or outside; You're in the right place either way. Read more about the Chanterelle
Now that we're talking about the Veluwe and the kids: we've put together a special list of the best things to do, with those kids, on the Veluwe. Save them all: Get a breath of fresh air together on the Veluwe 10 times
In the heart of the Veluwe, half hidden between the trees, is the Weaver Lodge. A beautiful hotel, small and nice with its own bistro. Ha! And not only that: there are also two fantastic cottages and they are fabulous. Everything here revolves around the love of nature (you are really in the middle of it) and it is craftsmanship, quality and luxury that count. In addition to the two lodges, there are fourteen rooms, so the hotel is small enough to avoid the crowds, but there is also enough space to get away with the whole family. The Wever Lodge may be fairly new, but the villa itself has existed since 1934, when it was still known as Pension de Wever. Everything has been restored down to the last detail (you know: the atmosphere of yesteryear, but with contemporary luxury), from the pure and local food from the bistro to the places where you can enjoy the most beautiful view - whatever the season. also goes. Read more about this here The Weaver Lodge and also check this list: the most beautiful sustainable hotels in the Netherlands.
A luxurious boutique hotel vibe, but all for you alone? That is Coco's Country House at Bospark de Vossenberg in Nunspeet. In nature, near the Veluwemeer and the Zandenplas, you can recharge in this beautiful and colorful tiny house. Surrounded by forests and outside, but with a modern and colour-explosive interior, this is the right combination of nature and design. You have a view of the garden from almost every corner and your own terrace where you can barbecue to your heart's content, have a drink at the large garden table, spot squirrels in the squirrel hotel (yes, there really is one too) or simply read a book in the hammock.
In 1945, the peace negotiations took place in Hotel de Wereld, something not every hotel can boast. The boutique rooms are therefore entirely themed, each paying tribute to a freedom fighter – from Banksy to Mandela.
The hotel is located in the charming, compact city center: perfect for shopping, drinks, and culture, and you can be in nature or on the Veluwe in no time. Inside, it's warm and colorful, with rooms that are each unique (some even have a swing on the ceiling).
Dine at the renovated Gastrobar, featuring delicious regional dishes. Pets are welcome in some rooms, and if you're traveling with children, choose the family room.
Forest hut, yes, but don't let the name fool you: although the title is not incorrect, 'forest hut' is quite an understatement if you ask us. The newly built luxury villa with beautiful views is located on a private property in the middle of greenery. Peace and space galore. You can stay there with a maximum of eight people, large and small, and the Boshut was built with an important purpose: escape the busy city life and enjoy nature. Newly built, so during construction all the luxury and design favorites that we fall for these days could be taken into account. The environment and the interior flow nicely into each other, thanks to the dark wooden facade, a natural slate roof, and a covered patio with lots of glass, allowing a lot of light to shine on the interior made of natural materials. Antlers on the wall, leather lounge chairs and a kitchen made of rough woodwork. Nice.
The Forest Hut consists of two parts connected by a corridor. On one side of that hallway you will find the bedrooms. On the other side of the hallway is the living room with double-sided fireplace, the luxurious kitchen and the bathroom with bath. Nothing to do? Yes indeed! The Boshut has a small Weltevree wood stove for baking pizzas, there is a hot tub and, rapaparapam, a natural swimming pool. The Boshut is located on the edge of the Vierhouter forest and the beautiful Elspeetsche heath. In winter, when there is a white layer, you can also go cross-country skiing here. Entertainment for the little ones? Also not difficult to find: the Dolfinarium, Walibi World and the Apenheul are nearby.
The pearls you discover if you wander through the Dutch landscape long enough... Like this incredibly laid-back campsite with two private beaches (yes, beaches, in Gelderland, two!), two small marinas (again: two!) and a great coffee shop, in the middle of the nature reserve of the floodplains of the Lower Rhine. Right, yes. For that you have to go to Camping Oosterbeeks Rijnoever. This campsite is perfectly located with the forests and hills of the Veluwe in the back and with a view of the Betuwe on the other side of the river. Equipped with electricity, you can spend a weekend or week there with your caravan, camper or tent. It is also kid-proof: there is plenty of climbing frames and climbing equipment and because you are on the edge of the Rhine, swimming at one of the beaches is an option when the weather is right. Extra plus: on the site you will find a covered area that everyone can use. There is a refrigerator with freezer space and in bad weather you can cook and eat here, for example. Although the biggest 'revenue model' of the tasteful camping lies in being undiscovered. We would like to keep it that way, so please don't tell anyone.
Eveline's holiday home, Forest hut Otterlo you can call it, it's a real one newborn among Dutch holiday homes. And what kind! This is the right place for anyone who is ready for peace, relaxation, conviviality - because that is also relaxation - and space (read: 1800 m2 of private forest plot - hey hey). The wooden house has three bedrooms plus a sofa bed, a spacious bathroom and two toilets. Great place to stay with a large family, two smaller families or with friends. With seven of you, you can more than comfortably stay there. Sounds good, but it only really becomes something when we talk about the look & feel have: the wood, the warm colors, the various seating areas and the wood-burning stove immediately create a nice, relaxed vibe upon entering. But actually you just want to be in the garden in this place all the time. Remember: 1800 m2? In the garden you will find a hammock with a view of the horse pasture (bring your own horse is also an option here), a BBQ, a pizza oven, an outdoor dining area and a fire pit (you'll need to chop your own wood with the axe provided). The kids can also have fun building endless huts and swinging in the swing bench. Would you like to go a little deeper? bush bush up for a walk or cycle route? Good news: you can roll, walk or cycle straight into De Hoge Veluwe National Park, where you can, among other things, discover the local big oven (red deer, wild boar, mouflon and roe deer).
Mori, Japanese for forest, is the name of this special place. Of course in the middle of the forest. A tiny house for four people on the Veluwe. Location is everything here, Mori Tiny House is located near the Zandenplas in the green. What can you expect then? An eye for detail, conviviality and an outdoor shower, plunge pool and fireplace.
No TV here, but games and fun.
The site of Camping de Vriendschap there are several houses on display, but only one has the label tiny house wears. And we mean really small, a place where you can get from the shower to bed within just a few steps. This model fits two people – you shouldn't want more – and it is equipped with everything you 'normally' need. A kitchen, shower and toilet are all included, just a bit smaller than normal. There are two gas burners, so save the three-course dinners for home, but otherwise you won't be bothered by space – or the lack of it. The house is self-sufficient due to the solar panels and there is a compost toilet. You don't have to make any concessions when it comes to space while sleeping; the bed is 2.10 by 1.40 and therefore suitable for two. A double bed that is on the small side, yes, but then you have all the more reason to snuggle up close to each other.
Hello Veluwe, hello Echowell, hello teahouse turned turned star restaurant and hotel, exactly in this nature reserve. The hotel has 42 spacious hotel rooms, good beds and a swimming pool where you can go for a morning dip. You can go to breakfast fresh and fruity and that's what you want: tasty and every allergy and intolerance has been taken into account. Must be five stars. It is a nice hotel, you can sleep like a baby and eat like a king (just to name something), but in the end you spend most of your time outside. It is not every day that Kroondomein Het Loo is just around the corner.
Un-Dutch luxury with the classic estate Het Roode Koper, in the middle of the Veluwe, and remains impressive. The estate may seem a bit stiff at first, for example when you visit the website. That old chic that may be nice, but is also a bit out of date. Wrong! Don't be put off by the sometimes somewhat old-fashioned approach to the website: once inside you will notice that the fancy accommodation address is much more contemporary than you think. That's because of the friendly staff who know how to offer a luxury that is timeless, every season and for all ages. A bit like the British do best: looks chic, but with a mug of beer on the table. So to speak. The horse stables have room for guest horses (yes: bring your own horse), the large heated outdoor swimming pool is on par with that of a hotel on a mountain in Italy, a day of sailing on Lake Veluwe is arranged in a snap, just like a visit to the Kröller-Müller Museum. The monumental Manegehuis, a beautiful villa with spacious rooms in the large private garden and overlooking the woods, is especially impressive. Oh, and Het Roode Koper has a great kitchen where they cook with ingredients from the region and their own gardens. Now you again.
A tiny house, but not that tiny. At Stek's outdoor area You can actually fit five of you in there! It's certainly cozy, but you still have plenty of space. And hey – you have the woods and all sorts of nature within easy reach, so you can really let loose there too. But honestly: for a tiny house, Buitenplek van Stek is surprisingly spacious. You can all fit on the sofa, and the most cozy corner of the house is around the pallet fireplace. There's definitely an outdoor area too: a large dining table, chairs for lounging, and a BBQ for when the sun shines (although we're also big fans of a winter BBQ). Because you're at Holiday Park de Vossenberg, it's not completely secluded, but there is plenty of privacy.
Quirky places are precisely those places that we would love and look for. Well, another one has been found. Boutique Hotel Beekhuizen, in a beautiful location in the Veluwezoom National Park, is small and cozy, wonderfully quirky and jaw dropping attractive. The hotel is just the right size, the rooms are spacious and light and you also have plenty of space outside. For yourself, your family or the other person lucky one who can come along. In the Veluwezoom National Park, and therefore absolutely great. Peace, nature, hours of walking pleasure, cycling routes, riding trails - think of something in the green and you will find it at Hotel Beekhuizen (and also wild boars, badgers, deer and deer!).
We love kids, especially our own, but sometimes it's secretly nice to spend a holiday without screaming and splashing around. Bee adults only Hotel de Sterrenberg you are assured that you will not hear anything about it. At least, not from small children - of course we are not responsible for other people's behavior and the wellness here is almost worth screaming, so nice. We mention a Turkish steam bath, a Finnish sauna, a bath with jets and bubbles… Yes, please and now. Although we are now getting ahead of ourselves because we also have to sleep, which you do in one of the 44 rooms. There are different room types, which have in common that they are on the spacious side and have very comfortable beds - good sleep is guaranteed. Plus: not to hike would be a crime, shall we say? In any case, you don't have to worry about getting bored: Hotel de Sterrenberg prides itself - and rightly so - on Cèpes, the hotel restaurant that was awarded a Bib Gourmand, a Michelin rating, and that is, in our humble opinion, rightly so. . More spa hotels that deserve a ribbon? Come on, one more: Fruit Park Hotel and Spa on the Betuwe, or the fruit garden of the Netherlands, should also be on your to-do list: the suite with a double whirlpool is especially nice.
Engelenburg Castle is located in a Pride and Prejudice-like environment, in the middle of the Netherlands. It was converted into a home for a member of the wealthy community in the seventeenth century, after which several Queen's Commissioners took up residence there. Since 1988 we have been allowed to go on holiday there, dine at the table or play a round of golf on the golf course. There is no spa or swimming pool, in case you were wondering (we did). The municipality is not allowed to do that. There are five large meeting rooms, forty hotel rooms and no fewer than six dining options, of which the brown café right next to the reception is a favorite, although that café competes with the lobby where the fireplace burns. Dinner is served in the conservatory and there is a party, then the gigantic doors are pushed open behind which the party rooms emerge. Grandeur that could still be appreciated in the Randstad, that much is certain.
Food & Drinks
We will take you to the beautiful Velp. Located on the main street in a historic building you will find restaurant Soiree. And we will also take you to the flamboyant one roaring twentys thanks to the distinctive interior.
What used to be the home of a Baroness, a bookshop, a museum and even a garage, has now been used as a restaurant called Soirée. Plus points, because this restaurant near Arnhem has the Veluwe as its backyard. If you ask us: a lovely walk during the day and a lovely stay at Soirée in Velp in the evening or for lunch. Read more about restaurant Soiree
You had us ate coach house… And if that coach house (because old glory and we love that) is also located on the water and has a nice terrace, then you know where we will be hanging out this summer. 't Koetshuis has been a household name in and around Emmen for many years, but since Maarten has been doing his thing there, the business has been upgraded and it is nicer and better than ever.
If we only have an hour in the area, we opted for it Grand Café Cornelis in Epe – with all respect and love for the rest of this list. A Grand Café as it should be, with all the trimmings but never too much.
Harderwijk may consider the Veluwe as its backyard, so we will certainly include it here: after all, little beats a great beach bar. Not on the coast, but a great city beach made from old construction containers. Outside, the hanging chairs are placed haphazardly in the sand, you can hang out at the outdoor bar or find a place at one of the picnic tables. One of those 'feel free to sit here all day' address. Do you want. Because yes, you can also sit there during a local shower: it is just as cozy inside. Vintage sofas, a fireplace that always seems to crackle and cupboards full of games. Should the kids have a break? Behind Walhalla you will find an immense climbing frame and trampolines. There's just a chance you'll never get them home again. In the evening you can sit down for a delicious dinner or a good drink with friends. The menu is surprising and very good. From Greek haloumi metras el hanout to a hamburger.
Nice extra; In the summer, Walhalla organizes cinema evenings on the beach. Nice for the lover. Okay, one last tip: are you floating on the Veluwemeer in your boat? From there you can sail straight into the harbor of Harderwijk, leaving this harbor exactly behind Walhalla. So, basically, there is no reason not to moor.
The rough restaurant Garage Royal is located on the Koningsweg estate, a former army base that was shaped as a cultural enclave. A dream place, in the middle of the woods. Warm up with a glass of red wine, choose a pizza or Flammkuchen from the menu and enjoy this fantastic and surprising place in nature.
Pavilion de Posbank, without 't', is an indispensable classic for lunch or a drink during a walk through the Veluwe, and has been so since 2002. Back then it was still a tea house, but that soon became no longer sufficient. The large glass building in the heart of the Posbank nature reserve is a beautiful sight and rightly an attraction. Upon entering you immediately encounter a large rock in which the stairs are incorporated, a beautiful moment to look around you: there is glass everywhere you look, with nature as a background. The menu is fixed, nice and clear, with everything you need after some time outdoors: hot chocolate, a cold beer or a glass of good wine, tomato soup, oversized snacks, grandmother's meatball, a club sandwich and farmhouse bread with a burger or a croquette. Please note: Pavilion de Posbank closes every day around five o'clock in the afternoon, in winter even at four o'clock as it is located in the middle of a quiet area. And after sunset, that silence comes on.
Brasserie Floor is best described as a kind of modern forest hut, including rugs and a crackling campfire, where you can enjoy an excellent drink. Boshut galore, but on the Veluwe you can also go chic without losing that nice feeling of being outside.
Brasserie Staverden shows us how it should be done: the country house is a fantastic wedding location, but it is also a wonderful address for a well-filled picnic basket or - at regular intervals - an uncomplicated barbecue. Did we already mention that the terrace, and therefore the outdoor life, is fan-tas-tic here?
If you are in the Veluwe, drive to Ede for a loaf of bread Jorisbrood. You can find this bakery owned by, yes, Joris, in an old barracks. Croissants, braided bread: you name it, Joris makes it.
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