Ermelo from beach to forest

This route leads through the most famous nature reserve in the Netherlands: De Veluwe. The Veluwe is approximately 1000 square kilometers and the Ermelose Heide covers approximately 343 hectares. The area consists of beautiful, full forests and rolling heathlands. Sheep, which are housed in the Sheepfold on the Midden-Veluwe, among other places, graze the area and thus ensure that there is room for new growth. Large parts of the Veluwe consist of elevations in the landscape that were created by glaciers or ice tongues that pushed the subsoil up. You will also encounter such a moraine, so-called Paalberg, on the Ermelose Heide. You will also find burial mounds and earthen defensive walls of the Roman March camp. These have the status of national monuments. We recommend that you park your car at the starting point of the route, Supermarkt's -Heerenloo. Before leaving, you can buy a thirst-quenching apple, a bottle of water or something savory in the supermarket for the road. Nothing is more wonderful than taking a break on the Ermelose Heide and enjoying something tasty in peace! You leave in a westerly direction and cycle a bit along the water towards Strand Nulde. There you turn and cycle inland again. In Putten you arrive at the De Vanenburg estate and castle. Crops were grown on the estate from 1389 to 1645. Small adjustments were gradually made, giving De Vanenburg more of the character of a country estate, while retaining its agricultural function. A lot changed on the estate, especially in the twentieth century. From the moment it was auctioned in 1931, the country estate has no longer been privately inhabited. The castle was used as a holiday colony and as a prison camp for Jews, before it was put into use by the training institute for the Protection of Civil Populations. Despite the fact that the estate was widely used, the complex fell into disrepair and was in danger of being lost. The Vanenburg Group saved it from destruction; The castle was renovated and now serves as a hotel, where conferences and meetings are also organized. You cycle past one of the sheepfolds, whose residents are probably frolicking over the heath, and return to Ermelo via the Leuvenumse Bos. You can do some shopping at the supermarket so that you can prepare a delicious meal at home. This way you can dine comfortably in your own comfortable living room and enjoy the fantastic view over the water or the vastness of the heath.