Holiday apartment in Leusden: nature, hiking trails and history

Leusden is located in the province of Utrecht between the Utrechtse Heuvelrug and the Gelderse Vallei. Situated near Amersfoort, the town is considered easily accessible for a day trip or a weekend in the Utrecht region due to its central location. Landscape, historic trails and places of remembrance are closely connected here in terms of theme.

Landscape

Den Treek-Henschoten Estate lies at the transition from the Utrechtse Heuvelrug to the Gelderse Vallei and covers almost 2,200 hectares of forests, natural areas, farmland and heathland. The area is open to nature enthusiasts and offers self-guided themed walks with an audio tour, GPS route and detailed route information. Separate blue and red mountain-bike routes are also available there; an equestrian trail network covers more than 60 kilometres.

Heerlijkheid Stoutenburg comprises meadows lined with rows of trees, wet grasslands along a stream and a park-like woodland area rich in birds. The walking route through the old Stoutenburg castle woodland runs mainly through deciduous forest with some conifers; 66 bird species have been recorded in the area. De Boom Estate covers more than 1,100 hectares and preserves a varied, well-maintained cultural landscape with hedgerows between Leusden, Woudenberg, Achterveld and De Glind.

Hiking trails and routes

The Termatenpad is a 14-kilometre walking trail. Its starting point is opposite Wachthuisje Post 43 at Leusbroekerweg 6 in Leusden; the trail can be reached via the Leusbroekerweg/De Mof bus stop in Leusden. The 10-kilometre Grebbelinie walking route runs along the Liniedijk from Leusden to Woudenberg.

The Klompenpad circular walking trails around Leusden follow historic routes through the agricultural landscape, along unpaved paths, farmland and country estates. The Klompenpad Schutpad runs through the park-like woodland around the manor house of De Boom Estate. The 1.5-kilometre Filosofenpad ISVW also runs through the ISVW Estate and the Oud-Leusden woodland and heathland area. At ten stations, figures from the history of philosophy are presented via QR codes.

Next to Heerlijkheid Stoutenburg is the Koetshuis, which serves as a visitor centre; several routes start here. Koetshuis Stoutenburg Visitor Centre offers regional products and coffee. For further activities in and around Leusden, the Leusden Natuurlijk tourist information centre provides information.

History and culture

The Asschatterkeerkade dates from 1745 and is 2,500 metres long. After the war, it developed into an ecological area inhabited by bats, mammals and up to 40 different bird species. During a walk along the Asschatterkeerkade, visitors pass concrete casemates, a war memorial, a reconstructed trench and a preserved anti-tank obstacle. Among others, Leesbaar Landschap Leusden organises excursions at the Asschatterkeerkade.

Over the centuries, three different castles stood on Stoutenburg Estate; the present-day Kasteel Klein Stoutenburg was built in 1888. The Stoute Schoenenpad at Heerlijkheid Stoutenburg is an interactive, educational walking trail for families with young children.

The Museumbunker Leusden is a German bunker built in 1944–1945 that was converted into a small museum at the end of 2014. It forms part of a large open-air museum landscape with the Valleikanaal, reconstructed farmsteads, firing ranges, a demolished bridge and a recreated trench. In the area around Leusden, the underground museum and the reconstructed inner courtyard of Kamp Amersfoort convey the history of the site to visitors. Post-war monuments, traces in the ground and original remains have been preserved on the outdoor grounds. Nationaal Monument Kamp Amersfoort keeps alive the memory of around 47,000 prisoners there.

An annual commemoration ceremony has been held at the Sovjet Ereveld since 2012.

Discover places

For further local navigation, the pages on Leusden and Achterveld are also available.

For the higher-level travel overview: Utrecht.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

De Bilt, Oudewater, Maarssen, Nieuwegein, Veenendaal, Zeist.