Holiday apartment in Veenendaal: Mills, History and Nature

Located between the two large nature reserves of Kwintelooijen and Prattenburg is Veenendaal. For exploring on two wheels, the Rondje Gelderse Vallei cycling route covers approximately 35.7 kilometres through the wooded landscape and inland areas around Veenendaal. In the city, the cycle paths are wide, cyclists feel safe and bicycle parking is well organised.

Culture

The Stadsmuseum Veenendaal brings the city's history to life with exhibits, modern multitouch tables and images, connecting the past, present and future. The story spans everything from the old peat barges and the wool and cigar factories to the present day. Every year, the museum organises various temporary exhibitions, lectures, demonstrations and other activities. The VVV information centre Veenendaal is located in the museum shop of the Stadsmuseum.

The Grebbelinie Visitor Centre is located at Fort aan de Buursteeg between Veenendaal, Renswoude and Ederveen. It explains the history of this water defence line, which played a role in national defence for centuries. The visitor centre is just over one kilometre from Veenendaal-De Klomp railway station on foot.

The mills are also part of the town's cultural character. De Nieuwe Molen is a round, stone wind-powered grain mill and smock mill dating from 1911, built as the successor to a post mill of the same name. It can be visited on Saturdays. De Vriendschap is a smock grain mill built in 1872, where flour is still milled using traditional craftsmanship. It is a special piece of cultural heritage where everyone is welcome.

Nature

At Fort aan de Buursteeg, there is an approximately 2.5-kilometre walking route featuring preserved Dutch and German bunkers, reconstructed trenches, a shelter for anti-tank guns and nature. The Monumentenrondje in Veenendaal is seven kilometres long and can be completed on foot, by bicycle, scooter, skates or running. The route highlights peat, wool, cigars and steel as the four pillars of Veenendaal's development. As part of the Monumentenrondje, visitors can also take a guided tour of a mill with a miller.

The Veense Ommetjes programme comprises eight routes of approximately five to six kilometres in and around Veenendaal. Another connection between the railway station and the town centre is provided by the De Klomp Stationsroute: the approximately five-kilometre walking route leads from Veenendaal-De Klomp railway station to the town centre and passes through nature, history, and old and new industry.

For more challenging cycling tours, Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park offers more than 95 kilometres of mountain bike trails through the forests, as well as nine different routes. This means that short routes in the town, circuits through the surrounding area and longer trails through wooded landscapes are all available.

Culinary experiences

In the gardens at De Eekhoeve, visitors can pick or cut their own flowers, vegetables and fruit. Landwinkel De Eekhoeve and the “Bij Kees & Sien” tea house offer afternoon teas and farm tastings. At the Landwinkel, visitors can also try the local product Veens Kaatje.

Other linked destinations: Utrecht, Woerden, De Bilt, Lopik, Zeist, Houten, Leusden.

To the higher-level travel overview: Utrecht.