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The Netherlands🇳🇱 | citiesApeldoornHet Loo palace, Veluwe forest, Apenheul, cheap bike hire | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Apeldoorn
👀 For curious travelerscity ranked #17
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 16, 2026

Apeldoorn sits on the edge of the Veluwe, so a 10-minute bus ride from the station puts you in forest that most Dutch itineraries skip, and bike hire here costs less than in Amsterdam. Located in Gelderland, in the east-central Netherlands, it is a calm, green, middle-sized city that suits cyclists and walkers but not nightlife seekers. Compared with Arnhem or Utrecht, it is quieter and less urban. I arrived on a delayed train from Amersfoort, and a conductor handed me a paper map of cycle routes before I asked.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #17 city in The NetherlandsReasons people choose to visit here

Backpackers come for the Veluwe National Park on the doorstep, which turns a Dutch city stop into a forest and heathland stay with real hiking and cycling. Accommodation is limited and hostels are scarce, so plan ahead, but the compact center is walkable in an hour. The direct trains to Amersfoort and Zwolle, each about 25 to 35 minutes, make it an easy link between Amsterdam (roughly 70 to 90 minutes) and the east. Treat it as a two-night green break, not a party base.

💡 HighlightsDon't-miss highlights and experiences

  1. Paleis Het Loo: a 17th-century royal palace with formal baroque gardens and a museum. Go on a dry morning. Entry is about €18 to 20 and you need 2 to 3 hours.
  2. Hoge Veluwe National Park: sandy heath, forest and free white bikes. Visit in late summer when the heather blooms. Entry is about €12 to 13 and a visit takes 3 to 5 hours (shuttle buses run from Apeldoorn station area connections).
  3. Kröller-Müller Museum: Van Gogh paintings and a large sculpture garden inside the park. The museum is included with the park ticket plus a fee of roughly €12 to 14, and takes 2 to 3 hours.
  4. Apenheul: a primate park where monkeys roam free among visitors. Go at opening time, expect around €30 to 35, and allow 3 to 5 hours.
  5. Berg en Bos: forest on the city's edge with walking trails and a lookout. It is free, best
… read more 👉
  1. Paleis Het Loo: a 17th-century royal palace with formal baroque gardens and a museum. Go on a dry morning. Entry is about €18 to 20 and you need 2 to 3 hours.
  2. Hoge Veluwe National Park: sandy heath, forest and free white bikes. Visit in late summer when the heather blooms. Entry is about €12 to 13 and a visit takes 3 to 5 hours (shuttle buses run from Apeldoorn station area connections).
  3. Kröller-Müller Museum: Van Gogh paintings and a large sculpture garden inside the park. The museum is included with the park ticket plus a fee of roughly €12 to 14, and takes 2 to 3 hours.
  4. Apenheul: a primate park where monkeys roam free among visitors. Go at opening time, expect around €30 to 35, and allow 3 to 5 hours.
  5. Berg en Bos: forest on the city's edge with walking trails and a lookout. It is free, best in the early morning, and a loop takes 1 to 2 hours.
  6. Centrum shopping streets and Grote Kerk: an easy wander of cafes and the Grote Kerk square. Free, best in the afternoon, 1 hour.
Hoge Veluwe pairs well with the Kröller-Müller Museum in a single day, since the museum sits inside the park. Close to Apeldoorn, Hoenderloo, Deventer and Zutphen also make good day trips.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Apeldoorn

2,5 hour Battle of Arnhem Tour with Private Guide

2,5 hour Battle of Arnhem Tour with Private Guide

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e-Scavenger hunt Arnhem: Explore the city at your own pace

e-Scavenger hunt Arnhem: Explore the city at your own pace

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Discover Arnhem with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!

Discover Arnhem with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!

4.9(8)
From €28
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Battle Of Arnhem Self Guided Route 4km - 1,5 hours walk

Battle Of Arnhem Self Guided Route 4km - 1,5 hours walk

4.3(11) 1h 30m
From €8
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6 Hour Battle of Arnhem Tour by Car with Private Guide

6 Hour Battle of Arnhem Tour by Car with Private Guide

5.0(7) 6h
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1,5 hour private guided Mural Street Art tour in Arnhem

1,5 hour private guided Mural Street Art tour in Arnhem

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Arnhem Self-Guided Detective Murder Mystery Game

Arnhem Self-Guided Detective Murder Mystery Game

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Murder City Game with Live Game Supervisor in Arnhem

Murder City Game with Live Game Supervisor in Arnhem

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From €23
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1,5 hour private guided Highlights of Arnhem City Walk

1,5 hour private guided Highlights of Arnhem City Walk

5.0(2) 1h 30m
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Escape the City City Game with Live Game Supervisor in Arnhem

Escape the City City Game with Live Game Supervisor in Arnhem

4.5(2) 3h
From €23
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Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🏘️ NeighborhoodsNeighborhood guide to Apeldoorn

Apeldoorn is compact, and its areas sort themselves by distance from the station, which tells you how much time each one costs.
  • Centrum: A pedestrian core of Hoofdstraat, Marktplein and the Oranjerie-style squares, ten minutes on foot from the station. Terraces, cheap snack bars and a few brown cafés keep it lively on weekends and quiet by midnight. Best value for a backpacker: free, flat and fully walkable.
  • Het Loo and the Kanaalzone: Paleis Het Loo sits a 25-minute walk or short bus ride north of the center. The gardens charge admission, but the surrounding Kroondomein woods are free and reward a bike far more than a bus.
  • Zuid and Brinkpark: Residential, with Turkish bakeries and grocers along Deventerstraat. It is the cheapest place to eat, a 15 to 20 minute walk from the center, and has almost
… read more 👉
Apeldoorn is compact, and its areas sort themselves by distance from the station, which tells you how much time each one costs.
  • Centrum: A pedestrian core of Hoofdstraat, Marktplein and the Oranjerie-style squares, ten minutes on foot from the station. Terraces, cheap snack bars and a few brown cafés keep it lively on weekends and quiet by midnight. Best value for a backpacker: free, flat and fully walkable.
  • Het Loo and the Kanaalzone: Paleis Het Loo sits a 25-minute walk or short bus ride north of the center. The gardens charge admission, but the surrounding Kroondomein woods are free and reward a bike far more than a bus.
  • Zuid and Brinkpark: Residential, with Turkish bakeries and grocers along Deventerstraat. It is the cheapest place to eat, a 15 to 20 minute walk from the center, and has almost no nightlife.
  • Orden and Osseveld: Leafy suburbs. Skip them unless cycling through.

⌛️ 1 dayHow to make the most of one day

Apeldoorn works as a one-day mix of royal history, forest and small-city calm.
9:00 AM: Paleis Het Loo. Arrive at opening to walk the baroque gardens before tour groups. Spend about two hours inside and out.
12:00 PM: Centrum. Take bus or walk 30 minutes to the center. Lunch at a cafe on Hofstraat or Marktplein, then see the Grote Kerk.
2:00 PM: Berg en Bos. A short bus or bike ride leads to forest trails that most visitors never see. Walk a 6 km loop through pine and heath.
5:00 PM: Station area. Return to town, grab a snack and a drink, and check train times to your next stop.

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Apeldoorn

May to September is the best window for Apeldoorn, when the palace gardens and the surrounding woods are at their best.
  • Spring (April to May): 5 to 17°C (41 to 63°F), tulips and long evenings, moderate prices.
  • Summer (June to August): 14 to 23°C (57 to 73°F), 16 or so daylight hours, busiest for cycling and parks, highest prices.
  • Autumn (September to October): 8 to 17°C (46 to 63°F), colorful forests, fewer crowds.
  • Winter (November to March): 0 to 6°C (32 to 43°F), short gray days, lowest prices, some seasonal closures.
Pack a rain jacket whatever the month.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: good for travelingAUGAugust: good for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
netherlands-city-apeldoorn
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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

Stay in or just around the Centrum for the best mix of cheap beds, safety and transport. Budget beds are limited in Apeldoorn, so expect a few hostels, simple guesthouses and rooms booked through apps rather than a hostel strip. Within a ten-minute walk of the station you can reach buses, trains and late snacks without paying for a taxi. Streets are safe after dark, though terraces can be noisy on Friday and Saturday nights, so ask for a courtyard-facing room. Apeldoorn Zuid is the second option, with lower prices and quiet nights, but a 15 to 20 minute walk or short cycle from the station. Book early in summer and on event weekends.
Best hostels in Apeldoorn


Best quality hotels in The Netherlands

🚌 Getting aroundMoving around without the hassle

Rent a bike or use your own feet: Apeldoorn is flat, laced with cycle paths, and the center is small enough that most sights sit within 3 km (2 miles) of the station. Traffic is calm, and buses are punctual but cost more per ride than the distances justify.
  • Walking: Free, and the fastest way around the center. The station to Marktplein takes about 10 minutes.
  • Bicycle: Rentals run roughly US$12 to 20 a day, and OV-fiets from the station costs about €4.65 per 24 hours with a Dutch account, so most visitors pay for a standard rental. It is the best value, since it reaches Het Loo and the Veluwe woods in 15 to 30 minutes.
  • City bus (Syntus): Single rides cost about €3 to 4 by contactless bank card or OV-chipkaart. Services run from about 6 am to midnight, with fewer evening runs. Use it for rain or
… read more 👉
Rent a bike or use your own feet: Apeldoorn is flat, laced with cycle paths, and the center is small enough that most sights sit within 3 km (2 miles) of the station. Traffic is calm, and buses are punctual but cost more per ride than the distances justify.
  • Walking: Free, and the fastest way around the center. The station to Marktplein takes about 10 minutes.
  • Bicycle: Rentals run roughly US$12 to 20 a day, and OV-fiets from the station costs about €4.65 per 24 hours with a Dutch account, so most visitors pay for a standard rental. It is the best value, since it reaches Het Loo and the Veluwe woods in 15 to 30 minutes.
  • City bus (Syntus): Single rides cost about €3 to 4 by contactless bank card or OV-chipkaart. Services run from about 6 am to midnight, with fewer evening runs. Use it for rain or distant suburbs only.
  • Train: Direct services reach Amersfoort, Zwolle and Deventer. Apeldoorn to Amsterdam takes about an hour with one change, costing roughly €15 to 20. Fares are far higher than a bike, but nothing is faster for leaving town.

👛 Costs (as of 16 October 2026)Travel costs and budget guide for Apeldoorn

Expect to spend about €65 to 110 a day in Apeldoorn, with accommodation as the main variable.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodation (high season)€35 to 55Few dorms exist, so private budget rooms often replace them.
Dorm accommodation (off-season)€28 to 42Weekdays are cheapest.
Meals€15 to 30Supermarket lunches and snack bar dinners keep this low.
Local transport€0 to 8Walking is free, buses cost €3 to 4 a ride.
City transport pass€0 to 12Bike rental €12 to 20 replaces a pass.
Basic activities/entry fees€0 to 20Woods are free, palace and park cost more.
Miscellaneous€5 to 12Coffee, beer and laundry.
Total Daily Budget€65 to 110Lower with cooking and free forest days.
Buy groceries at Albert Heijn or Lidl and cook for at least one meal a day.

source: holland.com
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🚌 Day tripsEasy escapes and nearby places

Apeldoorn works well for day trips because trains and bike paths radiate into the woods and old Hanseatic towns.Hoge Veluwe National Park: Roughly 30 to 40 minutes by bus plus a short walk, or 1 hour by bike. Entry costs around €12 to 14 including free white bikes, and the Kröller-Müller Museum adds a van Gogh collection. Go on a dry day from April to October, and arrive before 11 am. First-timers often forget the park closes its gates in the evening.
👉 Explore Hoge Veluwe National ParkDeventer: A 15-minute train ride for about €5 to 7 each way. Medieval lanes, a Thursday market and the Bookmarket in early August make it worthwhile. Allow four hours.
👉 Explore DeventerZutphen: Reached in about 25 minutes by train via a change, roughly €6 to 8. Walled streets, canals and cheap cafés suit a lazy … read more 👉
Apeldoorn works well for day trips because trains and bike paths radiate into the woods and old Hanseatic towns.Hoge Veluwe National Park: Roughly 30 to 40 minutes by bus plus a short walk, or 1 hour by bike. Entry costs around €12 to 14 including free white bikes, and the Kröller-Müller Museum adds a van Gogh collection. Go on a dry day from April to October, and arrive before 11 am. First-timers often forget the park closes its gates in the evening.
👉 Explore Hoge Veluwe National ParkDeventer: A 15-minute train ride for about €5 to 7 each way. Medieval lanes, a Thursday market and the Bookmarket in early August make it worthwhile. Allow four hours.
👉 Explore DeventerZutphen: Reached in about 25 minutes by train via a change, roughly €6 to 8. Walled streets, canals and cheap cafés suit a lazy afternoon in spring or autumn.
👉 Explore ZutphenKroondomein Het Loo: Cycle 20 minutes from town into heath and forest where red deer roam. Free to enter, best in late September when the stags rut. Stay on marked paths.

🍲 FoodLocal Flavors for Backpackers

Start with a broodje or a fresh stroopwafel from a market stall, then try stamppot (mashed potato with kale or sauerkraut and smoked rookworst) when it turns cold. Veluwe pancake houses serve huge pannenkoeken with bacon or apple, often under €15.

Backpackers eat cheaply at Turkish bakeries and snack bars around Deventerstraat and the center, where a kapsalon or kebab roll costs about €7 to 10. The Saturday market on Marktplein is good for cheese, herring and fresh fruit. Evenings gather on Hoofdstraat and Marktplein terraces for local Dutch beer, jenever and bitterballen.

Dutch custom is to split bills only if asked, and tipping is rounding up. Dinner often starts around 6 pm.

🛡️ SafetyScams, Hazards, and Annoyances

Apeldoorn is very safe, and the main trouble is bike theft. Lock your bike with two locks to a fixed object, even for five minutes, and never buy a cheap bike from a stranger. Pickpocketing is rare but occurs at crowded events and on trains. Women and solo travelers can walk the center at night comfortably, though the area around the station and quiet park paths feel empty late. Cyclists have priority, so watch for bike lanes before stepping off a curb. Drunken noise on weekend nights is the usual annoyance.
Check Country Safety

FAQTraveler FAQ

Two days is ideal for Apeldoorn. One day covers Paleis Het Loo and the center, while a second lets you cycle the Hoge Veluwe National Park (3 to 5 hours) or visit Apenheul. Trains from Amsterdam take about 70 to 90 minutes.
Yes, Apeldoorn is very safe for solo backpackers. Violent crime is rare and the center and forest paths are generally calm in daylight. Lock your bike (theft is the most common problem) and keep an eye on belongings at the station.
Apeldoorn is known for Paleis Het Loo, the 17th-century royal palace, and for Apenheul, the primate park. It also sits next to the Veluwe, the Netherlands' largest forest and heath area. The Kröller-Müller Museum with its Van Gogh collection is about 25 to 30 minutes away.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Dutch cities near Apeldoorn

Explore more nearby:

  • Deventer—Bergkwartier, IJssel bank, Brink square, mustard shop| 14 km away
  • Zwolle—Sassenpoort gate, moat walk, Peperbus, northeast base| 35 km away
  • Amersfoort—Koppelpoort, Mondrian roots, wall houses, medieval core| 40 km away

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We 💚 feedbackFinal thoughts on visiting Apeldoorn

The mistake to avoid is treating Apeldoorn as a quick stopover between Amsterdam and Germany. Give it two nights and a bike. Without that, you see only a quiet town. With it, the forest, palace and trails make it a rewarding break from busy Dutch cities.

✈️ When did I visit The Netherlands?
Netherlands is my home base, so whenever I don’t travel, you can find me in this tiny spot on the globe. When friends from abroad visit me, it’s the time to actually explore my own country as a traveler.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in The Netherlands, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

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