Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park
In the middle of the province of Utrecht lies a ridge, which is the largest forest in the Randstad. Castles and casemates, forests and meadows, museums and routes - you will find it all in the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park.
Wander through nature for hours, enjoy panorama lookouts or soak up culture in historic villages. Our ancestors already knew: the Utrechtse Heuvelrug is an oasis of peace, nature and landscapes that appeal to the imagination. It is not without reason that wealthy people from the past built their country houses and castles here. Nowhere in the Netherlands will you find such a pleasant alternation between culture and nature. Between the regal estates and their picturesque villages, and endless forests and moors. But you will also find traces of the earliest human habitation and the military past of the Netherlands. And in between all this, the deer, badger, sand lizard and black woodpecker have also found their home in this area. And with them many other animal and plant species.
History
150,000 years ago, ice and water pushed up masses of earth and stone, forming a ridge in the middle of the Netherlands. On this ridge you can find the largest forest in the Randstad (a megalopolis in the central-western Netherlands) and you have a view over the riverscape. History can be felt everywhere in this area. Because of the many estates and castles, but also because of the great military significance that the area has had.
Because of its location and beauty, the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park has been a place where people can relax and get new energy for centuries. It is not without reason that wealthy townsfolk built their country estates here; close to the city but still surrounded by nature. Here, history is cherished while at the same time everyone can experience the national park in their own way. Whether you come for a quiet walk, an adventurous mountain bike ride or to delve into a part of Dutch history.
