Explore the rural area of Meerveld

The Veluwe remains one of the major tourist attractions in the Netherlands. It is wonderful to relax in the pleasantly cool forests in summer. The greenery has a relaxing effect on people. And the great thing about the Veluwe is that greenery is available for so long. You can't get through the forest in a snap, but you can simply cycle for hours under the green canopy. In addition, the villages on the Veluwe are cozy, authentic and it all seems a little less rushed.

Just through Garderen you will find an address on your right that is definitely worth a visit: the Sculpture Garden and the Sand Sculpture Festival. The latter runs annually from May to October and shows the most beautiful works of art made from sand. The Sculpture Garden is open all year round, together with the on-site bric-a-brac shop.

The small village of Stroe is located in an agricultural enclave. It is located close to Barneveld and it is therefore not surprising that you will find a large concentration of poultry farmers here. The same also applies to the next centre, Kootwijk. These villages have recently been hit by outbreaks of bird flu, requiring all chickens to be culled. Fortunately, this does not bother you as a human being and cycling through these beautiful farming villages is no problem at all. The road from Stroe to Kootwijk leads over a beautiful heathland area.

The gently rolling landscape with heathland and fens is truly breathtaking. This area is also a well-known place for spotting big game. There are many red deer and wild boars in these forests, but you have to be patient to see them. You have the best chance of seeing them at dusk, morning and evening. In autumn you can hear bellowing deer here, then the rutting age has begun. And if you are very lucky, you might see two males fighting. A truly sensational sight and sound of clashing and interlocking antlers.