Written by Bryan Dearsley
One of the largest cities in the Netherlands,
Arnhem - on the right bank of the Lower Rhine, just a few kilometers
below the point where the IJssel branches off the Rhine - is an ideal
spot from which to explore this beautiful little country. Before doing
so, be sure to spend at least a day or two visiting Arnhem's many
historic sites and attractions. First mentioned around 893 AD, the city
occupies the site of the old Roman settlement of Arenacum and, thanks to
its advantageous position on the Rhine, has been an important place of
trade since the Middle Ages, evidence of which can still be seen
throughout Arnhem's old city center. In addition to its many memorials,
Arnhem boasts numerous museums and cultural attractions, including the
excellent Netherlands Open Air Museum with its displays of traditional lifestyles, and the Hoge Veluwe National Park, one of the country's most important conservation areas and a fun place to explore either on bike or on foot.
1 The Netherlands Open Air Museum
The Netherlands Open Air Museum
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Spread across 82 beautiful wooded acres just four kilometers from the
heart of Arnhem, the Netherlands Open Air Museum (Nederlands
Openluchtmuseum) is one of the country's most popular tourist
attractions. Founded in 1912 by ordinary Dutch citizens wanting to
preserve traditional ways of life and folk art from different parts of
the country, this excellent museum focuses on the living and working
conditions of both the rural population - farmers, craftsmen, and
fishermen - as well as townsfolk up to the start of the 1900s.
Highlights include typical farmhouses and fishermen's homes, windmills
of all kinds, and a variety of craft workshops occupied by costumed
guides demonstrating traditional skills. Visitors will also see a steam
sawmill from Groenlo, a steam-driven dairy from Veenwouden, and an
entire group of houses from the Zaan area, all brought here from their
original sites.
Address: Hoeferlaan 4, 6816 SG Arnhem
Official site: www.openairmuseum.nl
2 Editor's Pick The John Frost Bridge and the Airborne Museum
The John Frost Bridge and the Airborne Museum
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Arnhem's bridge over the Rhine, immortalized in the film A Bridge Too Far,
was famously held by British paratroopers for four days against
overwhelming odds during 1944's Market Garden airborne operation.
Renamed the John Frost Bridge in honor of the commander of the
paratroopers - also commemorated by a monument at the north end of the
bridge - it's a poignant reminder of the strategic importance of the
city through the centuries. Also of interest is Airborne Museum Hartenstein
in the suburb of Oosterbeek, housed in the former 19th-century villa
that served as Frost's headquarters. On display is a large collection of
memorabilia, along with displays regarding the Netherlands during WWII.
Another worthwhile attraction is the nearby Airborne War Cemetery
and the war memorial dedicated to those who gave their lives for
freedom (this and other related WWII sites can be visited as part of the
Liberation Route, a fascinating self-guided tour around Arnhem and
neighboring Nijmegen).
Address: Utrechtseweg 232, Oosterbeek, Gelderland 6862
3 Hoge Veluwe National Park
Hoge Veluwe National Park
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Just eight kilometers north of downtown Arnhem, Hoge Veluwe National
Park is one of the largest such parks in the Netherlands and is a
must-visit when in the area. Encompassing some 13,800 acres, Hoge Veluwe
is also the country's largest nature reserve, home to a diverse range
of flora and fauna, including deer, wild boar, mouflon, and numerous
species of birds, making it a bird watchers' paradise. It's a popular
destination for cyclists (more than 1,700 complimentary white bikes are
available for visitors' use) and walkers alike, with numerous trails
leading through expanses of dense woodland, heath, and sandy dunes.
Other highlights include a sculpture park with works by Rodin and Noore,
and the Kröller-Müller Museum, a first-rate collection of 19th and 20th-century European art.
Address: Koningsweg 17, Schaarsbergen
4 The Bronbeek Museum
The Bronbeek Museum
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In the Bronbeek suburbs between Arnhem and Velp, the Bronbeek Museum
(Museum van het Koninklijk Tehuis voor Oud-Militairen) lies in a
retirement home once occupied by army veterans from the Dutch East
Indies. Consisting largely of artifacts brought back by these soldiers
stationed in far-flung Dutch colonies, the museum was established in
1863 and is one of the oldest in the Netherlands. Along with its
displays of weapons, uniforms, and medals, the museum offers a
fascinating insight into the often-tough conditions these soldiers faced
in their daily lives when they were posted overseas.
Address: Velperweg 147, Arnhem
5 Exploring Arnhem's Old City Center
Exploring Arnhem's Old City Center
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From Arnhem's main shopping streets, the narrow Rijnstraat and
Roggestraat, numerous smaller streets fan off toward the Rhine and to
the oldest parts of town. Starting at the spacious Market Square
(Markt), you'll see the Grote Kerk, a 15th-century church with a
splendid tower offering fine views over the city (other highlights
include its carillon and the imposing marble monument of the last Duke
of Gelderland, Charles of Egmond, who died in 1538). Other highlights
include the 16th-century Old Town Hall, known as the Devils'
House after the three devilish figures guarding its entrance. The
remains of the even older town walls, the 14th-century Sabelpoort,
are also here. Finally, from the John Frost Bridge, a ring of gardens
runs north along the line of the former town walls and passes St. Walpurgis Basiliek, the town's oldest church, consecrated in 1422.
6 The City of Nijmegen
The City of Nijmegen
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Nijmegen, the largest town in Gelderland, is only seven kilometers
from the German border (and 24 kilometers south of Arnhem) on the left
bank of the River Waal, the southern branch of the Rhine as it
approaches the sea. One of the cities targeted by Operation Market
Garden in 1944, it's a delightful place to explore on foot thanks to its
many parks and pleasant pedestrian zones. One of the most popular is
the Valkhof, an attractive park on a low hill above the Waal on
the site of an imperial stronghold built by Charlemagne in 768 AD. All
that remains of the original stronghold is the palatine chapel of St. Nicholas, consecrated by Pope Leo III in 799 AD. To the southeast are the ruins of a Romanesque apse, St. Maartenskapel, believed to date from the time of Frederick Barbarossa around 1155 and offering superb views. Also of interest is the Belvedere, an old 16th-century watchtower, and the Grote Kerk (St. Stevenskerk) dating from around 1260.
7 The Royal Burgers' Zoo
The Royal Burgers' Zoo
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A short stroll from the Netherlands Open Air Museum, the Royal
Burgers' Zoo is also well worth a visit, especially if you're traveling
with youngsters. Home to more than 2,000 animals (it's one of the
largest zoos in the Netherlands), this splendid attraction is noted for
its collection of chimpanzees and gorillas; a large collection of birds;
numerous magnificent rock enclosures; and the recently added Rimba, a
realistic copy of a Southeast Asian rainforest. Also of interest is a
fun walking safari through an African-style savanna providing up close
views of lions, giraffes, rhinos, and cheetahs.
Address: Antoon van Hooffplein 1, 6816 SH Arnhem
Official site: www.burgerszoo.com
8 Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
Hans Dinkelberg
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Arnhem's Museum of Modern Art (Museum voor Moderne Kunst Arnhem), set
in the splendid gardens of the Reeberg, occupies an old mansion that
once housed an exclusive Gentlemen's Club. Established in 1918, the
museum boasts a large collection of both modern and contemporary
figurative art, along with early 20th-century decorative arts and
temporary exhibitions. Other highlights include collections of visual
arts from the 1980s onwards, as well as applied arts and design,
including glass and ceramics.
Address: Utrechtseweg 87, 6812AA Arnhem
Official site: www.museumarnhem.nl/ENG
9 Doorwerth Castle
Doorwerth Castle
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The lovely moated Doorwerth Castle, just 11 kilometers west of
Arnhem, is a wonderful example of a Dutch medieval fortress. Entered via
a drawbridge, the castle was originally built in the 13th century and
was later enlarged in the 15th and 16th centuries to its present
impressive dimensions. Almost completely destroyed during the heavy
fighting of 1944, the building has been carefully restored to its former
glory and is as popular with tourists as it is with ghost hunters
(special ghost tours are occasionally offered).
Address: Fonteinallee 2b, 6865 ND Doorwerth
10 Amersfoort
Amersfoort
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About 50 kilometers west of Arnhem, the lovely old town of Amersfoort
is an easy excursion by car or public transport. Particularly pleasing
is the well-preserved Old Town, surrounded by a double ring of canals
and home to many fine historic buildings. Highlights are its old
churches, including St. George's in the Hof, the town's main
square. Dating from 1243, the church boasts a beautiful Gothic rood
screen from the 15th century and the tomb of famous Dutch architect
Jacob van Campen. Also of interest is the nearby Late Gothic St. Mary's Tower
(Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren), almost 100 meters high and with a carillon of
47 bells that's considered one of the finest in the Netherlands. Be
sure to explore the 15th-century Koppelpoort, connected to the
old town by the outer ring canal. This spectacular water and land gate
spans the Eem in the outer ring of fortifications and can still be
closed with the aid of a windmill. 
Amersfoort Map - Attractions
Amersfoort Map - Attractions
Day Trips from Arnhem
Enschede and the Twente Museum
Enschede and the Twente Museum
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Given its central location, Arnhem is the perfect place from which to
venture out and explore the many delights of the Dutch countryside. A
particularly pleasant day trip is Enschede, an hour's drive east of
Arnhem on the Twente Canal near the German frontier. Long a center of
the country's cotton industry, Enschede is also an important cultural
center, and is home to the Twente Museum. The museum's collection covers
the main periods of art in Flanders and the Netherlands from the 15th
century to the present day, including a fine collection of antiquities
and paintings, old manuscripts, woodcarvings, Delftware, and tapestries.
Address: Lasondersingel 129-131, 7514 BP Enschede 
Enschede Map - Attractions
Enschede Map - Attractions
Deventer
Deventer
Maurits Vermeulen
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About 30 minutes' drive from Arnhem, the old Hanseatic town of
Deventer lies on the right bank of the IJssel. The town has preserved a
number of beautiful old houses in its center and is famed for its sweet
and moist honey cakes (kruidkoek). The most striking building on Deventer's main square is the Late Gothic Weigh-House
(Waag, 1528-31) with a handsome external staircase. The Weigh-House,
together with the adjoining House of the Three Herrings (De Drie
Haringen, 1575), has been occupied since 1915 by the Municipal Museum of Antiquities
with a variety of exhibits illustrating the history of the town and
surrounding area. On the outside wall hangs a copper cauldron once used
for gruesome executions - a counterfeiter was reputedly boiled to death
in it long ago. Other town attractions include the Gothic Grote Kerk (Lebuinuskerk) and the delightful Toy Museum (Speelgoedmuseum), a family favorite. 
Deventer Map - Attractions 
Arnhem Map - Attractions
Deventer Map - Attractions
Arnhem Map - Attractions
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