Natural Beauty
Experience the green heart of Arnhem and its surrounding landscapes
Explore Arnhem's Natural Spaces
Despite being a vibrant city, Arnhem is known as one of the greenest cities in the Netherlands, with an abundance of parks, gardens, and natural areas.
From the historic Sonsbeek Park to the National Park Hoge Veluwe nearby, nature lovers will find plenty to explore in and around Arnhem.
PopularNationaal Park Veluwezoom
Veluwezoom was formally established on 25 January 1930, making it the oldest national park in the Netherlands. Its 5,000 hectares of landscape were shaped by the Saalian glaciation and are managed today by Vereniging Natuurmonumenten, the country's largest nature conservation organisation. The Posbank viewpoint sits at around 90 metres elevation, with views extending up to 20 km on a clear day. Wildlife is abundant: wild boar, red deer, and the rare black woodpecker all live here. Take bus 51 from Arnhem Centraal.
PopularPark Sonsbeek
The municipality purchased Park Sonsbeek from Baron van Heeckeren in 1889. At the heart of the park stands Huis Sonsbeek, a mansion established in 1744 and known locally as De Witte Villa. A working watermill on the Jansbeek stream still grinds wheat and barley into flour, continuing a 750-year milling tradition on this site. Cherry blossoms in spring and golden foliage in autumn are particular highlights. The park is free to enter and fully open year-round.
PopularBurgers' Zoo
Johan Burgers founded the zoo in 1913; it now houses more than 10,000 animals from over 500 species across 45 hectares, with 35 species participating in European Endangered Species Programmes. The Burgers' Bush — a 1.5-hectare enclosed tropical rainforest — opened on 1 June 1988 and won both the Dutch and European Steel Prize. The Ocean tank holds 8 million litres of seawater with sharks and a full coral reef. The Rimba habitat, opened in 2008, replicates a Southeast Asian rainforest with Sumatran tigers and Malayan sun bears. Bus 3 from Arnhem Centraal runs directly to the entrance; allow a full day.
Rhine River Paths
The Rijnkade embankment runs along the city's southern edge with flat riverside paths, café terraces, and views across the Rhine.
Park Klarenbeek
Arnhem's first city park, with roots in a 14th-century Carthusian monastery — and a well-loved 50-metre outdoor pool open since 1954.
Park Angerenstein
A historic estate with documented ownership from 1487, sold to the city in 1941 after serving as a German occupation headquarters during WWII.
Park Zypendaal & Huis Zypendaal
Grounds of an 18th-century country estate open year-round, with Huis Zypendaal — built 1762–1764 for the Brantsen family — open for guided tours.
Uiterwaardenpark Meinerswijk
A 300-hectare floodplain park in the heart of Arnhem — home to free-roaming Konik horses, Galloway cattle, and more than 200 bird species.
Nederlands Watermuseum
An interactive water museum in the Bagijnemolen — a corn mill built in 1404, hidden within Park Sonsbeek — with 50+ hands-on exhibits.