Hoge Veluwe National Park: Day Trips and Tours from Amsterdam

Leave Amsterdam behind with a day trip to Hoge Veluwe National Park from Amsterdam — a pristine nature reserve in the middle of the Netherlands.

The national park (often referred to as the green heart of Holland) features strikingly different biomes and a variety of species — all wild-roaming within their natural habitats.

But the park doesn’t only cater to nature lovers — there are also hiking and bicycling trails available, as well as the Kröller Müller Museum, which features artists like Van Gogh, Picasso and Mondrian.

Here's all you need to know about Hoge Veluwe National Park, one of the most exciting day trips from Amsterdam.

How to get to Hoge Veluwe National Park from Amsterdam?

The Hoge Veluwe National Park is a privately owned and operated park located southeast of Amsterdam. The park is the largest natural reserve in the Netherlands and is home to woodlands, sand dunes and heathlands.

By car

The Hoge Veluwe National park is 80 kilometers away, making it an hour’s drive from Amsterdam.

Head south from the Visserplein until you exit Amsterdam. After that, head southeast until you reach the small town of Otterlo, from which you’ll be able to enter the park.

By bus and train

As with most places in the Netherlands, it’s quite easy to travel to the Hoge Veluwe National Park from Amsterdam by public transport.

From the Amsterdam Sloterdijk train station, board the 3021 Intercity train to Nijmegen, but terminate at the town of Ede-Wageningen. From here, board the 108 Bus to Appeldoorn via Otterlo and hop off once you reach the entrance to the park.

Guided tour to Hoge Veluwe National Park from Amsterdam

Don’t want to get bogged down by the logistics of planning and executing your trip? Simply opt for a guided day trip to Hoge Veluwe National Park from Amsterdam.

Not only will you be able to sit back and enjoy the tour, but your guide will also be with you for the entire journey — ready to answer any questions you may have.

How much does the entrance ticket to Hoge Veluwe National Park cost?

The Hoge Veluwe National Park is privately owned and operated, and as such, there is an entrance fee.

• Adults (14 and above): €12.30
• Children (aged 6 to 13): €6.15
• Children (aged 5 and below): Free
• Entrance to the Kröller Müller Museum: €20.00

Children under the age of 6 may enter the park for free, and there’s a small discount available for groups of 20 people or more. There’s an entrance fee for a vehicle at €8.70 and a parking fee of €4.35.

What is the typical itinerary?

A typical tour to Hoge Veluwe National Park starts with a pickup from your hotel in central Amsterdam. From there, an air-conditioned vehicle will take you to the park. Once you’ve arrived at the park, you’ll spend some time visiting the hides and lookouts — taking in the park’s wonderful nature.

After this, you’ll have the opportunity to go cycling through the park or simply relax at one of the viewpoints. If you’ve purchased a ticket to the Kröller Müller Museum, you may use this time to explore the museum’s extensive art collection.

What kinds of tours are available to go to Hoge Veluwe National Park?

Guided half-day tour to Hoge Veluwe National Park from Amsterdam

A guided tour allows you to travel to and from the park with relative ease — while having a passionate guide at hand to answer any questions you may have. After you’ve completed your driven tour of the park, you can cycle through the park on your own terms.

Small group half-day trip to Hoge Veluwe National Park from Amsterdam

A small group tour is a great way to explore Hoge Veluwe National Park on a more intimate level. The tour is limited to 16 participants, so it’s nowhere near the number of people on the larger tours. This also makes for favorable conditions when taking in the peace and quiet of the park.

Hoge Veluwe National Park day trip plus Kröller Müller Museum

Nestled in the Hoge Veluwe National Park is the Kröller Müller Museum, home to the second-largest Van Gogh collection in the world.

A Hoge Veluwe day trip plus the museum visit will allow you to marvel at the natural beauty of the park — and the brilliance of artists like George Seurat, Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondriaan and Claude Monet.

Your accompanying guide will also tell you more about the artists, their work and the beautiful museum that houses them.

How much does a day trip to Hoge Veluwe National Park from Amsterdam cost?

A guided half-day tour to Hoge Veluwe National Park from Amsterdam will cost about €130 per person, making it one of the more affordable options.

The small group half-day trip to Hoge Veluwe National Park from Amsterdam costs €140 per person, a relatively small price to pay for a bit more privacy.

Both tours have the Kröller Müller Museum available as an optional extra with an extra fee of €20 per person.

The Hoge Veluwe National Park day trip plus Kröller Müller Museum costs €200 per person —a bargain when you consider that this includes a dedicated guide who’ll bring the works of art to life.

What will you see and do?

You’ll spend most of your day trip to Hoge Veluwe National Park exploring the amazing nature that the park has to offer. You can also visit the Kröller Müller Museum, as it’s situated within the park.

While the museum is nowhere as famous as the Van Gogh Museum or the Rijksmuseum, it’s still definitely worth a visit, and it’s home to the second-largest Van Gogh collection in the world.

What are the opening times?

The Hoge Veluwe National Park is open all year round from 9 AM to 6 PM, with longer opening hours during the summer months. During June and July, the park operates from 8 AM to 10 PM.

When is the best time to visit Hoge Veluwe National Park?

The best time to visit the Hoge Veluwe National Park is from May to August. During this time the weather is pleasant, and the park stays open for longer hours. As with most destinations, it’s better to arrive early to avoid crowds.

What are the other day trips from Amsterdam?

• Zaanse Schans Windmills day trips from Amsterdam
• Volendam day trips from Amsterdam
• Keukenhof Gardens day trips from Amsterdam
• Marken day trips from Amsterdam
• Day trip to Edam from Amsterdam

Travel tips

• Lunch is not provided on tours, so take extra drinks and snacks.
• Take a pair of binoculars to view the animals.
• Wear comfortable clothes, especially when bicycling or hiking.