Van Goghs, free bikes, and miles of parkland where kids can run free

Occasionally in our travels my husband and I find a destination so incredible that we talk about it for weeks afterward, smile wistfully at our photos, and enthusiastically annoy our friends and family with the details of our trip.

We found such a gem a few weeks ago when we were in the Netherlands at Hoge Velwe National Park.  In one unparalleled park you satisfy your needs for culture, exercise, nature, architecture, history, art, and (most importantly), child friendliness!

White bikes, free for the borrowing

You’re not really experiencing the Netherlands if you’re not pedaling, and keeping with this spirit, there are 1,700 white bikes provided for visitors as part of a bike sharing program. The bikes are located at six different bike stands throughout the park and at all three entrances.

The majority of them have either a front or rear child seat and there are smaller bikes available if you’re traveling with your school-aged children. We biked for about an hour with our little ones safely strapped in (bring your own helmets) and found it an ideal way to get from place to place while experiencing the diverse landscape starting in a dense forest that quickly transitioned into miles of wind-swept sand dunes.

And a world-class museum

In the middle of the park you will find a remarkable art museum, a highlight for many visitors. Helene Kroller-Muller amassed 78 Van Goghs along with works from many other noteworthy artists including Picasso and Monet. The museums architecture creates a very open, relaxing feel completely lacking that ‘stuffy’ art museum vibe.

Our children are 2 and 3 years old, so their first choice of outings would not be an art museum.  However, playing a few rounds of ‘I spy’ with them helped them to actually look at the beauty surrounding them so mommy could salivate over the Van Goghs a bit.

Plus Europe’s largest sculpture gardens

Just outside of the museum you will find a walking path that takes you through the 25 hectares of sculpture garden that is set against the gorgeous backdrop of woods, ponds, and fields. This is the largest sculpture garden in Europe, and a great place to stroll with the kids after being indoors at the art museum.

Before you go:

The park is huge, so you’d be wise to check out the visitor center for maps of biking trails, museum hours and location of restaurants in advance.  Other attractions here include the world’s first completely underground museum, The Museonder, where you are able to descend through three levels offering ‘spyholes’ throughout where you can view anything from rabbit holes to root systems. This park is also home to St. Huberous hunting lodge designed architect by H.P. Burlage, which guests can tour with a guide.

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October 11th, 2010 | by Julie Breitigan 3 comments