Cycling route West Veluwe and Gelderse Valley
Cycling through the largest active drifting sand area in Western Europe, surrounded by endless forests and blooming heathlands.
The Landscape
The West Veluwe is a diverse natural area where drifting sands, forests, and heathlands change rapidly from one landscape to the next. Here, you experience iconic natural features such as vast active sand drifts, the dancing trees of one of the Veluwe’s oldest forests, and the distinctive Scots pines that have towered above the heath for generations.
At the edge of this rugged natural setting lies the Gelderse Valley, nestled between the Veluwe and the Utrechtse Heuvelrug. Here, an open agricultural landscape unfolds with meadows and fields reclaimed from once-wet land, interwoven with green natural corridors where forests and heathlands provide shelter for wildlife and birds.
What You’ll Discover Along the Way
The route leads through long forest avenues and across open heathlands where ancient Scots pines give the landscape its character. In several places, the dancing trees appear, creating a remarkable sight in the quiet forest. As you approach the drifting sands, the scenery becomes wilder and you can literally feel the sense of space expanding around you.
Amid the greenery, traces of Veluwe heritage appear, from old farmhouses and burial mounds to stately country houses often hidden just out of sight. A striking cultural and historical highlight is Radio Kootwijk, where nature and history come together in an impressive setting. In this way, the route offers not only beautiful scenery, but also a story woven through the landscape.
In the Gelderse Valley, the scenery changes into a wide agricultural landscape with straight plots, drainage ditches, and long views across meadows and farmland. You cycle through an area that was once marshland, but was transformed into fertile land through reclamation and careful management. Natural corridors of forest and heath add variety along the way and create a pleasant green backbone throughout the route.
You cycle along the transition between higher sandy grounds and lower valley landscapes, giving the route a subtle yet noticeable relief. The alternation between sheltered forest edges and open stretches continually reveals new vistas and far-reaching views. As a result, the ride feels varied, even without any real climbs.
Ride along with us on this virtual bike tour
Virtual cycling through the West Veluwe and the Gelderse Valley lets you experience the rugged Veluwe landscape with active drifting sands, endless forests, and heathlands dotted with distinctive Scots pines. From home, you follow a varied route past remarkable natural features such as the dancing trees and vast open sand plains.
The scenery then shifts to the Gelderse Valley, where wide-open farmland and green natural corridors create a bright and spacious landscape. This virtual cycling tour combines quiet forest avenues with sweeping views across the agricultural heartland between the Veluwe and the Utrechtse Heuvelrug.
Want to learn more about virtual cycling? THIS IS HOW VIRTUAL CYCLING WORKS
Route map and cycling junctions
Start and finish near cycling junction 36 on the Nieuw Milligenseweg in Kootwijk. Because this is a circular route, you can also start at one of the other cycling junctions along the route.
Distance: 56 km
Estimated riding time: 3 hours 46 minutes
Elevation gain: 148 m
Paved roads: 71%
Unpaved / semi-paved: 29%
Ideal for: e-bikes and city bikes
Along the way: several options for a coffee break or lunch.
