The Drifting Forest
As one of the few parts of the Netherlands that reaches heights of 100m+ above sea level, De Hoge Veluwe (or High Veluwe) is a world away from the low-lying polders of Holland.
It is a diverse mosaic of landscapes, including deciduous and coniferous forests, expansive heaths and grasslands, and the mysterious sand drifts. Previously barren areas of soil, depleted of nutrients by farming, and blasted by the wind over time, these are shifting patches of sand into which heather, grasses and trees begin to grow in a continuous process of regeneration of the land.
1944 topographic map with De Veluwe at the centre, as one of few places with elevation in the central Netherlands
The dune sea
The National Park was established in 1909 as the private estate of the Kröller-Müller family, patrons of a number of Architectural gems and artworks nestled within the forest. In more recent years, the park has become the focus of rewilding projects including the reintroduction of European Bison, and has even seen the return of wolves from Germany.
Despite its vastness, the Veluwe is easily reached by public transport, and can be explored by a wide network of cycle paths and hiking trails. A free bike sharing system allows visitors to pick up and drop off cycles at strategic points across the park, and investigate the land at their own pace. The Veluwe is innovative in its rewilding work, but also in curating a visitor experience that is uniquely diverse and accessible.
On 10.10.2023, Periscope visited for a glowing Autumnal day, cycling briskly through the woods, spotting flora and fungi in the forest, and witnessing fauna grazing in the heathlands. All the while, we wondered how we might be able to create a similar experience closer to home.
The beech forests at sunset
Birch and Oak roots
The desert beyond the pines
Free cycle hire stations near Otterlo
Visitors can experience a network of cycle paths through diverse landscapes, from forests, to heathland and dunes
