Cycling route Around National Park De Hoge Veluwe
Cycling through an impressive Veluwe landscape of mixed forests, wet and dry heathland, open grasslands and dynamic drifting sands.
The Landscape
National Park De Hoge Veluwe, covering 5,400 hectares, is the largest privately managed nature reserve in the Netherlands and forms a green heart between Otterlo, Hoenderloo and Ede. Within its boundaries, rolling heathlands, drifting sand plains and stately forests alternate, creating a landscape shaped in part by the history of estates and careful stewardship.
From 1906, Anton and Helene Kröller-Müller gradually acquired land here to create a place where nature, art and culture enhance one another. Beyond the park, the Veluwe landscape blends seamlessly into its surroundings, with quiet heath and drifting sands to the north and west, and a softer cultural landscape of tree-lined avenues, fields and meadows stretching toward Arnhem to the south and east.
What You’ll Discover Along the Way
Around De Hoge Veluwe, you cycle through mixed forests and open heathland, where wide sandy tracks alternate with quiet forest lanes. The light shifts constantly, from cool shade beneath pines to bright, far-reaching views over purple expanses and pale sandy stretches. From Otterlo, every kilometer feels distinctly Veluwe: calm, spacious and green.
Along the edges of De Hoge Veluwe, historic avenues, forest roads and estate features add a distinct sense of heritage to the landscape. Nearby highlights such as the Jachthuis Sint Hubertus and the Kröller-Müller Museum allow you to combine nature with culture effortlessly, giving your cycling route in Gelderland added depth without sacrificing its sense of tranquility.
Beyond the forest edge, the landscape opens into meadows, farmland and long sightlines across the countryside around Ede and toward Arnhem. These open stretches bring space and variety, making the return to heathland and forest feel even more immersive. The contrast between Veluwe nature and small-scale land use makes the route surprisingly diverse.
The area around De Hoge Veluwe is gently undulating, with sandy ridges and shallow valleys that add a playful rhythm to your ride. Subtle climbs and soft descents are paired with ever-changing views of heathland, forest edges and open fields. This keeps the pace natural and the experience dynamic, even over longer stretches.
Ride along with us on this virtual bike tour
Virtual cycling around National Park De Hoge Veluwe lets you experience from home the variety of mixed forests, wet and dry heathland, open grasslands and light sandy plains. In the video, you follow wide forest lanes and quiet paths with ever-changing views, as if you were cycling right through the heart of the Veluwe.
Along the way, you see how nature and culture come together, with estate landscapes along the edges of the park and distinctive Veluwe features shaping the scenery. Virtual cycling around De Hoge Veluwe is an ideal way to find inspiration for your next bike ride or simply unwind and enjoy the calm of the Veluwe.
Want to learn more about virtual cycling? THIS IS HOW VIRTUAL CYCLING WORKS
Route map and cycling junctions
Start and finish near bike node 49 on the Hoenderloseweg in Otterlo. Because this is a circular route, you can also start at one of the other cycling junctions along the route.
Distance: 51 km
Estimated riding time: 3 hours 25 minutes
Elevation gain: 184 m
Paved roads: 73%
Unpaved / semi-paved: 27%
Ideal for: e-bikes and city bikes
Along the way: several options for a coffee break or lunch.
