De Hoge Veluwe National Park Overview

At 13,565 acres, De Hoge Veluwe is the largest nature reserve in the Netherlands. Exploration through the park reveals wooded areas, moors, grassy plains, diverse wildlife, and—extraordinarily—sand dunes. The park’s 36km of biking trails are its main attraction, and 1700 white bikes are available for free at five convenient spots in the park. (Grounds open daily Apr. 8am-8pm; May and Aug. 8am-9pm; June-July 8am-10pm; Sept. 9am-8pm; Oct. 9am-7pm; Nov.-Mar. 9am-6pm. €7, ages 6-12 €3.50; 50% discount May-Sept. after 5pm. Cars €6. V.) Begin by picking up a map (€2.50) at any of the park entrances or at the De Hoge Veluwe Visitors Center, known as the Bezoekerscentrum. (☎0318 591 627; www.hogeveluwe.nl. Open daily Apr.-Oct. 9:30am-6pm, Nov.-Mar. 9:30am-5pm.) Deep within the park, the world-class   Kröller-Müller Museum boasts an astounding 87 paintings and 180 drawings by world-famous artist Vincent van Gogh . The sprawling complex is also home to work by other early Modernist masters. (☎0318 591 241; www.kmm.nl. Open Tu-Su 10am-5pm; sculpture garden closes 4:30pm. €7, ages 6-12 €3.50, under 6 free.)

Arnhem is a good base for exploring the park. From its rail station, trains go to Amsterdam (1hr., 4 per hr., €14.40). From Arnhem, take bus #105 to Otterloo and transfer to bus #106, a shuttle bus, into De Hoge Veluwe. (M-F 10 per day 8:03am-4:02pm, Sa 9 per day 8:03am-4:02pm, Su 7 per day 10:03am-4:02pm; €4.80 or 6 strips). The exceptionally clean rooms of Stayokay Arnhem , Diepenbrocklaan 27, appeal to a slightly older crowd. Take bus #3 to Ziekenhuis Rijnstate and follow signs to the hostel. (☎026 442 0114; www.stayokay.com/arnhem. Breakfast included. Laundry €3.50; dryer €2. Reception 8am-11pm. 6-bed dorms €23-32; 4-bed €25-35; doubles €63-90; singles €44.80. €2.50 HI discount. AmEx/MC/V.) The elegant and inviting   Zilli & Zilli , Marienburgstr. 1, is one of the more popular restaurants in Arnhem. (☎026 442 0288; www.zillizilli.nl. Sandwiches €4.50-8.50. Salads €7-12. Pasta €7.50-14. Meat entrees €16-22. Lunch served 11:30am-4:30pm. Dinner served after 5pm. Open M-Th and Su 11:30am-1am, F-Sa 11:30am-2am. AmEx/MC/V.)