Even though I am Dutch and have lived in the Netherlands almost all my life, I had only been to the Veluwe once. My friend and I wanted to have a fun stay and were initially thinking of going abroad, but why go abroad when there are amazing places in our home country as well? Then we decided to stay in a cute nature house in the Veluwe.
What to expect in this article:
My stay in a cozy Veluwe cabin
Welcome to the Veluwe: a massive, nature-filled region in the heart of the the Netherlands. It is located in the province of Gelderland, and close to Utrecht (or an hour from Amsterdam).
Recently, a friend and I decided to swap our big houses in the city for a tiny cabin in nature. Just something we needed. We booked it in Velp (the Veluwe), and we liked the cute cabin. It was actually a cabin for 4, but we didn’t know that. It reminded me a lot of my cabin in the Achterhoek, where I stayed last year. That stay still wins as they had alpacas & cows <3
The cabin was small but had everything we needed: cosy beds, a little kitchen, and even a bathroom. You can also check in later in the day, which is perfect. They called us beforehand to check when we would come and when we said, we would arrive a bit late, they prepared instructions for us.
The best part about the cabin? The park is literally your backyard. One step out the door and you’re surrounded by trees, and hopefully you come across some wildlife.
And no worries, wildlife means deer, swine, foxes and maybe a wolf. No really scary animals are found in the Netherlands.
Buitenplaats Beekhuizen
If you want to stay at a unique spot, then you definitely have to book your accommodation at Buitenplaats Beekhuizen. You don’t only have the tiny cabins/luxury pod (as they would call it), but they also have forest cabins or a lodgetent / lodgetent xl / wellness. So there is something for everyone!
Right outside the camping you can find the Beekhuizense bossen (forest), which is gorgeous to walk through also.
Take a quick look at their accommodations through this link.
Read more articles from this Dutchie 🙂
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Restaurant Woodz
I thought this cabin was in the middle of nowhere. Now, that is not true at all. The camping Buitenplaats Beekhuizen is quite big and there is a pretty good restaurant here.
The park restaurant serves modern, fresh dishes — we’re talking matcha lattes (yes, in the middle of the forest!) and super yummy ravioli. I was really impressed by the dinner. The first night, we were eating, chatting while sitting outside. Under a roof, luckily, as after a while it started pouring. Yeah, Dutch weather is always unpredictable… It might sound weird, but it felt cosy, just chatting while we could almost touch the rain.
De Hoge Veluwe National Park
When people say that they are going to the Veluwe, they often imagine one big park. Until recently, I also thought this.
But the Veluwe is a huge region made up of different nature reserves, including not one, but two official national parks.
De Hoge Veluwe National Park – The park most people will know. It’s about 5,500 hectares and has an incredible variety of landscapes: forest, heathland, drifting sand dunes, and wetlands. You can also spot red deer, wild boar, and even the rare mouflon sheep. What is great about this park is that there are many free white bicycles (anything free, Dutchies are happy about 😉 , which you can use to explore the whole park. It’s a massive park. We were cycling for around 3 hours and still didn’t cover enough, so I would recommend this over walking. You can also rent bicycles; those might be a bit more comfortable.
Entree price: 13,40 euros pp (adult)
And you can combine it with a ticket to the museum – check it online
Website: www.hogeveluwe.nl/en
You can book tickets online, but also get them at the location.
Parking costs: Parking costs 4,75 euros- you can also take the car with you to the park, this costs around 9,50 euros
Veluwezoom National Park
Then Veluwezoom, this is the oldest national park in the Netherlands, but it is just as spectacular.
Especially the amazing Posbank area, which turns purple in August when the heather blooms. I still need to see this once with my own eyes! The Posbank was my first time that I met the Veluwe, back in 2021, after I moved back from Barcelona, I wanted to visit more places in the Netherlands and ended up here.
Both parks are close to Velp, which made our cabin the perfect base for exploring. We visited the Hoge Veluwe on the first afternoon and Veluwezoom the next morning. Unfortunately, we only stayed for one night, so after exploring the park in the morning, it was time for lunch and a drive back home.
Price: Free to enter
Don't forget to book an activity near the Veluwe
Where to park near the Hoge Veluwe Park
1. Otterlo Entrance – Houtkampweg 9 (6731 AV Otterlo)
This is the busiest entrance, close to the Kröller-Müller Museum and the Museonder. You can park right at the entrance. You pay both the parking fee and the entrance fee (either at the ticket booth or online) and receive an exit card.
The parking lots are open from 08:00 to 18:00. Due to its popularity, the walk from your parking spot to the entrance can be up to 2 kilometers.
2. Hoenderloo Entrance – Houtkampweg 13 (7352 TC Hoenderloo)
A quieter alternative compared to Otterlo. It’s located near the eastern side of the park and is a great starting point for hiking and cycling.
You park right at the gate and pay at the ticket booth. Free white bicycles are also available here. This is where we parked and got our bicycles.
3. Schaarsbergen Entrance – Koningsweg 17 (6816 TC Schaarsbergen)
If you want to avoid the crowds. You’ll be routed via the Schaarsbergen road into the park’s center.
Here, too, you park at the gate, buy your exit ticket, and can use the free white bicycles if desired.
When to visit The Netherlands / Veluwe
Spring (Apr–May): Fresh greens, flowers, and baby deer. This is my favorite season in the Netherlands
Summer (Jun–Aug): Long sunny days. Late Aug = purple heather magic.
Autumn (Sep–Oct): Beautiful autumn colors, deer rut season.
Winter (Nov–Feb): Quietness, frosty mornings, hot chocolate breaks. But cold!
My recommendation? Late August for purple hills, or May to enjoy warm, but not too warm weather
Why you also have to book this tiny cabin
Small but enough: Perfect for up to four people, with everything you need for a cosy stay (bathroom/ kitchen/ chairs/ extra light/an extra sofa bed)
Late check-in: Stress-free arrival
Direct park access: No car required; just walk or cycle straight into nature
Delicious modern food – Matcha lattes and ravioli in the forest? Yes, please.
More Dutch adventures & accommodations from me:
Off-the-grid accommodation: Winterwoods in Drenthe – sleeping in a yurt!
Meet Alpacas & unwind: A perfect weekend in Achterhoek, Netherlands – If you want to sleep close by peacocks, alpacas and cows
3 nice garden terraces in Zeeland (Netherlands) – perfect for your summer in the Netherlands
Chinese tea ceremony at Moychay: Amsterdam’s authentic experience
Let's wrap it up
If you want a trip that has adventure, relaxation, and comfort, a nature house at Buitenplaats Beekhuizen is the way to go! The Veluwe is one gorgeous park in the Netherlands and everyone should know about it (as long as it doesn’t get too crowded). Hopefully, the Netherlands will get more known due to these places and not only because of Amsterdam 😉
Did you like reading this article? Have you been to the Veluwe? I would love to know, so make sure to message me on my social media or leave a comment below.
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