National Park Utrechtse Heuvelrug and Grebbeberg

The Landscape

The province of Utrecht is crossed by a long ribbon of hills and meltwater valleys, a legacy of the penultimate Ice Age that occurred more than 150,000 years ago. From the Gooimeer in the north to the Grebbeberg in the south, the ice pushed up sand and stones to form an impressive ridge spanning 23,000 hectares. The discovery of flint tools shows that people were already roaming this area more than 100,000 years ago.

For centuries, the area remained wild and untouched. It wasn’t until the 18th century that wealthy Dutch citizens discovered the beauty of this landscape. Along the southwestern edge of the ridge, they built country estates, castles, and grand villas, overlooking forests, heathlands, and the river Rhine. This gave rise to the Stichtse Lustwarande, a unique stretch of more than a hundred historic estates where nature and culture go hand in hand. Nowhere else in the Netherlands will you find such a perfect harmony between landscape and heritage.

The Grebbeberg near Rhenen is a striking landmark at the edge of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug. Cycling here takes you through a varied landscape of wooded slopes, open fields, and beautiful views over the Rhine Valley. History has also left its mark on this area. Prehistoric burial mounds have been discovered on and around the hill, and in the Middle Ages, monks settled here. In 1940, the Battle of the Grebbeberg was fought on this site as part of the defense of the historic Grebbelinie. Bunkers, trenches, and the Military Cemetery still bear witness to this dramatic chapter in history.