Park 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.

Huis Sonsbeek now operates as Stadsvilla Sonsbeek, a grand café and restaurant open daily from breakfast through dinner — also a popular wedding venue. Two further cafés are in the park: the De Palatijn tea house and the Sonsbeek Pavilion. Two waterfalls and several ponds are scattered across the 67 hectares.

The park has hosted the Sonsbeek international sculpture exhibition since 1949, when Arnhem municipality organised it as part of the city's post-war recovery effort. The inaugural show, held 1 July–18 September 1949, displayed 199 sculptures from across Northern and Western Europe and drew 125,000 visitors. It preceded Documenta (1955) and remains one of the oldest recurring international outdoor art events. Editions are held at irregular intervals; the 2026 edition runs 2 July–11 October.