Is Apeldoorn worth a visit?

Apeldoorn is well worth a visit. In addition to top attractions like the Apenheul monkey park, het Loo palace and Julianatoren children’s amusement park, this lively city has much more to offer. Go to Apeldoorn with its historic inner city and beautiful city parks for endless shopping, architecture, and culture. Moreover, Apeldoorn is the perfect starting point for visiting the Veluwe, the Netherlands’ biggest nature reserve. Other places worth seeing are the nearby Kröller-Müller Museum, which boasts the world’s second-largest Van Gogh collection.

What is Apeldoorn known for?

Apeldoorn is famous for its historic inner city, beautiful city parks, and top attractions like Julianatoren children’s amusement park, Apenheul, and of course het Loo Palace. It is also popular as a starting point to visit the famous nearby De Hoge Veluwe National Park.

How far is Apeldoorn from Amsterdam?

The distance between Amsterdam and Apeldoorn is 76 km. The road distance is 90 km. From Amsterdam to Apeldoorn by train takes about 1 hour.

Apeldoorn

Want to go shopping as well as enjoy nature? Why not go to Apeldoorn for the weekend! The city center has endless opportunities for shopping, architecture and culture. There are also great cafés and restaurants. The beautiful forests and large natural landscapes can be found just outside the city, so urban life and nature meet here in a unique way.

Enjoy the center of Apeldoorn.
Discover the beautiful nature of the Veluwe and visit the many museums.
Visit top attractions, such as Paleis Het Loo or Apenheul.

With a population of 162,000 Apeldoorn is the 11th largest municipality in the Netherlands. The city grew prosperous with its flourishing paper industry and was the residence of the royal family for a long time. Apeldoorn is situated in the middle of the beautiful Veluwe and is well known for its unique combination of culture and nature with urban vibrancy. Discover nature on foot and by bicycle and visit the surrounding villages in the municipality.

Apeldoorn’s city center

When visiting the city center, let the special mix of restaurants and cafés, art, culture, well-known chain stores and local specialty shops surprise you. The compact shopping area is quite attractive with various squares and side alleys, where you will also find most of the restaurants. The Oranjerie, a large indoor shopping mall and the CODA museum can also be found in the city center, and every Saturday there is a big market on the market square. The town’s center guarantees a day full of shopping fun or a great night our!

From queens to monkeys

Apeldoorn is situated on the boundary of the famous nature reserve De Hoge Veluwe National Park. The free white bicycles allow you to easily explore the beautiful nature while cycling to the Kröller-Müller Museum, which is renowned for the second to largest Van Gogh collection in the world. Apeldoorn is probably best known for its former royal palace, which has been converted to a national museum: Palace Het Loo. The palace is currently being renovated and will reopen to the public in mid-2021. Apeldoorn is also the perfect place to visit with children, as the Julianatoren children’s amusement park and Malkenschoten children’s paradise come highly recommended. Apenheul, which boasts 35 different kinds of monkeys, is a must-see, where over half of the animals run free!

How to get to Apeldoorn?

The city is centrally located in the Netherlands and easily and quickly reached. It is about an hour’s train ride from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, and from Germany, the ICE train conveys you to Station Arnhem where you can switch to public transportation to Apeldoorn. You can board a bus or take a taxi at Station Apeldoorn, or take one of the bicycles that are waiting for you to explore the city and its surroundings.

Editors’ tips

Europe’s biggest marina mammal park, Dolfinarium Harderwijk, is just a 30 minute trip from Apeldoorn. This is the only place where you can see the animals this close. Another place to visit is the centuries old Hanseatic City of Deventer overlooking the IJssel river. Here, you will find beautiful monuments, fantastic squares, old museum, and plenty of lively entertainment if you want to go shopping or enjoy some relaxation at a pleasant café or restaurant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Apeldoorn is well worth a visit. In addition to top attractions like the Apenheul monkey park, het Loo palace and Julianatoren children’s amusement park, this lively city has much more to offer. Go to Apeldoorn with its historic inner city and beautiful city parks for endless shopping, architecture, and culture. Moreover, Apeldoorn is the perfect starting point for visiting the Veluwe, the Netherlands’ biggest nature reserve. Other places worth seeing are the nearby Kröller-Müller Museum, which boasts the world’s second-largest Van Gogh collection.