De Hoge Veluwe Park- (09/06)

Having set up camp in the outskirts of Arnhem we found ourselves perfectly placed for a day at the Hoge Veluwe Park. It’s the largest privately owned nature park in the Netherlands with 5,000 hectares of woodland, heathland, drift sands and peat bogs.

With 1700 free white bikes, visitors can make use of the 43km of bike paths to explore this extraordinary place. Happy to ditch our bikes for the day we loved cycling around the park load-free! The weather was naturally windy but with the sun out we spent a relaxing hour or so sunbathing by the many helpfully placed picnic benches. 

The 13km to the Visitors Centre from the entrance was worth it for the information about the animal habitat, methods of maintenance and history. From there the Kroller-Muller Museum and Sculpture Garden satisfied my artist interests. A great day out for the family. I highly recommend.   

A bit of history- (08/06)

Getting around the river Ijssel we intended to spend the day in Arnhem but with yet another puncture we were forced to stop in the city of Doesburg. As we tried to enter the high-street we were (and I kid you not) stopped by medieval guards who informed us that bikes were not allowed. Having explained the situation we were then escorted by guard to the bike shop beyond the gate. Turns out the town was having its annual medieval celebration, the Doesburgse Hanzefeesten. Well we thoroughly enjoyed having a look around the craftsman stalls, antique market, and traditional venders, listening to the folky live music and observing everybody’s medieval fancy-dress.  

Eventually we made it to Arnhem. A place I’ve always wanted to visit, being a bit of a history lover. We wandered through the city streets on the way to the Battle of Arnhem Museum situated intentionally within sight of the John Frost Bridge (named after the Major-General who led British forces in defence of the bridge). The museum was really interesting, mapping out the movement of Allied and Enemy forces chronologically with clips from the infamous film A Bridge too Far (although that is of course fiction). I really liked the walls displaying the feelings/accounts of German and British soldiers as well as Dutch eye-witnesses (both young and old).

If you really don’t know what I’m on about I suggest you read up on your WW2 history. Be warned though, there's no happy ending here.