Vacation rental in Soesterberg: Discover military history and nature

Soesterberg combines impressive military history with an expansive landscape. Vliegbasis Soesterberg Park covers 375 hectares, where more than 4,000 different plant and animal species have been observed. The nature reserve can be entered between sunrise and sunset. A vacation rental in Soesterberg therefore offers you an interesting base if you want to combine museum experiences, historic traces, and time outdoors.

Vacation rental in Soesterberg between museum and airfield history

The Nationaal Militair Museum has the largest military collection in the Netherlands and displays 19 aircraft and helicopters. On the museum grounds in Vliegbasis Soesterberg Park, the activities on offer include rides in a real military vehicle, mini-quad biking, and an obstacle course. The approximately 30-minute Monumentenroute in the park starts at the Nationaal Militair Museum. Another walking route in the park leads through the Munitiepark.

The Soesterberg Noord walking route passes military remains. These include an old German command bunker, the Nationaal Militair Museum, various monuments, and aircraft. The main military runway also shapes the history of the area: it is 3,077 meters long. The control tower remains as an iconic landmark and a valuable reminder of the Cold War.

Museums at Kamp Soesterberg

The Historische Collectie Bevoorradings- & Transporttroepen at Kamp Soesterberg is open to visitors year-round without registration on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It presents the history of the former Intendance service branch from 1905 to 2000. The Dienstvakverzameling Militaire Administratie provides an insight into the work of the military administration before and after the Second World War.

The Regiment Technical Troops Museum displays uniforms from various eras and operational deployments. Since September 9, 2004, the museum has been located in Building V15 at Kamp Soesterberg and has a library with more than 18,600 registered books. Soesterberg therefore offers not only large exhibits, but also insights into the administrative, transport, and technical aspects of military history.

Historic traces on foot and by bicycle

The historical audio tour through Soesterberg includes eight historic sights. The 7-kilometer route can be completed on foot or by bicycle and is accessed by scanning eight QR codes. For longer days of cycling, the 43-kilometer Militair Erfgoed Soesterberg cycling route is a good option; it starts at Odijkplein. The southern Soesterberg loop of the Het lint van Soest cycling route is 16 kilometers long. The different route lengths help you determine the pace you want for an active outing.

The former Vliegbasis Soesterberg can also be explored by bicycle: since 2014, the crossing via the Wethouder Lemmenpad, including the ride across the runways, has been documented. The structure of the Wegh der Weegen and its access roads is still clearly recognizable. The most authentic section of the Wegh der Weegen can be seen from the Stichtse rotonde in the direction of Soesterberg.

Getting oriented in the town and further destinations

Bus routes 575, 56, and 34 stop opposite De Basis at the Zwaantje in Soesterberg. De Basis has a bar serving coffee, tea, other drinks, sandwiches, and additional snacks. When choosing accommodation, you can therefore weigh a focus on museums and historic routes against extended cycling routes or a stay in the nature reserve. For families, the combination of engaging aircraft, vehicle experiences, short circuits, and longer tours creates a varied selection without requiring every day to be planned in the same way.

For further planning, you can also discover Soestduinen and Soest.

For the overview of the broader trip: Soest.