Culture of Apeldoorn. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

One of the main landmarks of Apeldoorn is located on the outskirts of the city. This is the internationally famous Het Loo Palace. The magnificent palace was built in 1685 on the site of the Royal Estate Het Loo by the order of William III. For many years, the gorgeous palace was the favorite place of the royal family and served them as a summer residence. In 1962, the palace became the property of the government, and in 1984 a museum was open there. This picturesque place is worth visiting not only for connoisseurs of architectural landmarks but also for tourists who like exploring natural landmarks as the gardens near the palace are nothing but stunning.

While building the palace, William III wanted to express how rich and powerful he was, so he ordered to build a palace of exceptional beauty that would impress its visitors. Both William and the English princess Mary Stuart, who was his wife, were keen on landscape design. That was the main reason for the appearance of the splendid gardens and pavilions that attract many visitors from all over the world.

Nowadays, the palace has become home to the old library and the National Museum. A few years ago, one more museum, Museum van de Kanselarij der Nederlandse Orden, appeared there. Needless to say, these are exceptionally interesting places for tourists. The large adjacent park area has magnificent statues and lanterns. Before making a visit to the palace, check its work hours as Het Loo is usually closed on Mondays. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The opening of the Apenheul Zoo took place in 1971. This is also one of the most important landmarks of Apeldoorn. The main idea of this zoo is very interesting – it’s a place where the animals rule. Many animals, for example, monkeys and apes, are free to do whatever they want. Visitors can interact with the animals in a unique way, and that makes this place so special. The spacious green habitat of Apenheul also looks nothing like traditional zoos. Humans are guests there, and can virtually come eye to eye with gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, and many other species.

Currently, several generations of monkeys live in the zoo, and a large research center appeared in Apenheul. Primatologists from all over the world visit it to study the animals. Visitors don’t need to be scared that the monkeys might steal their belongings as everyone gets a 100% monkey-proof bag before entering. Fans of natural landmarks will also enjoy their visit to De Hoge Veluwe National Park. It is hard to find a better place for a stroll in this region. It is also important to mention that the national park was a battlefield during the World War II, so it is also an important historical landmark.

The size of De Hoge Veluwe National Park is 5,400 hectares, and that makes it one of the largest nature reserves in Holland. To the service of guests, the reserve offers special cycling tours with trails of different length. There are special stops with 1,800 free white bikes that visitors can take and head to exploring this magnificent place. In addition to beautiful forests and sand drifts, ponds and heathlands, there are many animals in the reserve, such as deer, wild hogs, and mouflons.

When it comes to religious landmarks of the city, it’s simply impossible to fail to mention Grote Kerk, the building of which ended in 1892. Many call the cathedral “a royal church” because Queen Wilhelmina visited it many times. There is even a small statue of the queen near the church. Many visit the church to see its main decoration – the fabulous stained-glass window with the large national flag of the Netherlands. These are just some of the landmarks of the city that tourists should not forget to visit during their stay in Apeldoorn. Besides that, there are many charming parks, avenues, and public gardens that attract fans of outdoor recreation.

The city of Apeldoorn has several interesting sculptural attractions. First of all, there is the statue under the symbolic name “Kiss”. It is installed, surprisingly, at the station. This is perhaps because the place saw the most kisses. Since for most tourists acquaintance with the city begins with the railway station, such a remarkable place is unlikely to be missed. The sculptural composition “A man with two hats” is nothing more than a monument to the friendship of the Dutch and Canadians. It was built in gratitude to Canada for helping the Netherlands during World War II. The same monument is installed in Canada.

De Veluwsche Stoommaatschappij is another interesting place. This is an old train positioned on Laan van Mensenrechten. You can explore the engine and its work, as well as dine here. Now this will be a real gift for gourmets. Locals even organize weddings here – the place is so popular. For animal lovers, a visit to the Kinderboerderij Laag Buurlo farm will be a real treat. A beautiful pastoral atmosphere reigns here. You can have a picnic here, and children are just thrilled about the playgrounds, where they can frolic.

In the north of the city is located the wonderful castle Cannenburch. The atmosphere that prevails here cannot be confused with any other – it is unusually calm and peaceful here. There is a deep ditch (20 meters) dug around the castle, and inside you can find a green park, which means that you can sit perfectly in silence and enjoy the tranquility emanating from the place. There is also a shop with souvenirs, as well as cafes and restaurants. The castle was built in the 13th century (first mentioned in 1365) by order of Marshal Maarten van Rossum. There is only one way of getting into it – by a long stone bridge.

Theater & Congres Orpheus is another attraction that deserves the spotlight. In terms of architecture, the theater is good. However, the program offered here to viewers also boasts of this fact. Of the museums in the city, CODA is certainly worth a visit. Of its exhibits, a large amount of it is jewelry. There are also exhibitions and concerts here, so you should monitor the billboard so as not to miss an interesting event. In the south of the city, you can find one of the most interesting sights, Papierfabriek de Middelste Molen. It still works, but also operates as a museum. The paper mill was built in 1622.