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🇳🇱Apeldoorn
Discover Apeldoorn with your family: a baroque palace, the world's first free-roaming primate zoo, and easy cycling through a stunning national park.
Your family guide
Royal palaces, roaming primates, and forest adventures in Apeldoorn
“Where Dutch royal history meets wild primates and endless forest trails”
— San & Jo
Apeldoorn is one of those places that genuinely surprises families. You come for a baroque palace and leave having watched a gorilla stroll past your picnic blanket. That combination of grand royal history, a world-first primate park, and easy access to one of the Netherlands' most beautiful national parks makes Apeldoorn a seriously rewarding family destination.
The city sits in the heart of the Veluwe, a vast forested region in Gelderland that feels worlds away from the busy Dutch cities. Apeldoorn itself is relaxed and easy to navigate, with its historic northwest quarter full of stately villas and tree-lined streets. The pace here is unhurried, which is exactly what your family needs when you are trying to do justice to a €182 million renovated palace and a 250-hectare park.
Whether your kids are obsessed with animals, your teens want to zip-line through the forest, or you are dreaming of cycling through sand dunes to see a Van Gogh collection, Apeldoorn has a genuinely full itinerary waiting for your family. Plan for at least two days and you will not regret it.
GelderlandProvince, the Netherlands
April to OctoberBest time to visit
Veluwe regionSurrounded by national park
Best things to do
Why we love Apeldoorn for families
Paleis Het Loo
This stunning 17th-century baroque palace was recently restored for €182 million and it shows. Walk through lavishly decorated royal rooms, explore the stables filled with historical carriages, and wander the immaculate gardens inspired by Versailles. Do not miss climbing to the roof for a panoramic view over the grounds.
Book tickets in advance online to skip queues
3-4 hours
Apenheul Primate Park
Apenheul was the first zoo in the world to let primates roam freely alongside visitors, and it is still utterly unlike anywhere else. Over 30 species including orangutans, gorillas, and lemurs live in large natural enclosures. Some smaller primates will walk right past you on the forest paths. A genuine bucket-list experience for families.
Keep snacks zipped away as some primates are bold about stealing food
3-4 hours
Hoge Veluwe National Park
Just outside Apeldoorn, this 5,400-hectare park spans forests, heathlands, and shifting sand dunes. Borrow one of the famous free white bicycles at the entrance and cycle through landscapes that feel genuinely wild. Keep your eyes open for red deer and wild boar along the trails.
The white bikes are free with park entry and available at all three entrances
Half day to full day
Kröller-Müller Museum
Hidden inside Hoge Veluwe National Park, this museum holds the second-largest Van Gogh collection in the world alongside works by Picasso and Mondrian. The outdoor sculpture garden is enormous and genuinely impressive even for kids who are not museum fans. Combine it with a bike ride through the park for a perfect day.
Entry to the museum is included in your national park ticket
2-3 hours
Koningin Juliana Toren
This family amusement park has over 60 attractions including roller coasters, water rides, and a Ferris wheel. Named after the Dutch queen, it is a solid choice for a fun day out when you want something a little more high-energy after the cultural highlights.
Younger children especially love the gentler themed rides in the dedicated kids' zones
Half day
Park Berg en Bos
At 250 hectares, this is the largest park in the Apeldoorn area and it borders Apenheul directly. It is a lovely spot for a morning walk or a picnic between bigger attractions, with forest trails that feel surprisingly peaceful for a city park.
Enter from the Apenheul side to combine both in one easy morning
1-2 hours
Klimbos Apeldoorn
An adventure park in the forest with rope bridges, nets, lianas, and zip lines at various heights and difficulty levels. It is a brilliant outlet for kids with energy to burn and the forest setting makes it feel like a real adventure rather than just a playground.
Check the minimum height requirements before you go if you have younger children
2-3 hours
Our verdict
How Apeldoorn scores for families
Kids
Between the free-roaming primates at Apenheul, the zip lines at Klimbos, and the amusement park, kids are genuinely well catered for here.
Culture
Paleis Het Loo alone is worth the trip, and the Kröller-Müller Museum adds serious cultural weight. Apeldoorn punches above its size on this front.
Food
Good Dutch classics are easy to find and the restaurant scene is solid, though Apeldoorn is not a foodie destination in the way Amsterdam or Utrecht are.
Nature
The proximity to Hoge Veluwe National Park and the enormous local parks gives Apeldoorn some of the best nature access of any Dutch city.
Budget
Palace and national park tickets add up, but accommodation and food are more affordable here than in the major Dutch cities.
Planning your visit
How long should you stay in Apeldoorn?
1
1 day
Quick visit
Paleis Het Loo in the morning and Apenheul in the afternoon. You will cover the highlights but it will feel rushed.
sweet spot
2
2 days
Sweet spot
Day one for the palace and Apenheul, day two for Hoge Veluwe and the Kröller-Müller Museum. This is the pace most families actually need.
3
3 days
Deep dive
Add Klimbos, the Juliana Toren, and a proper wander through the city centre. You will leave feeling like you really know the place.
Guides for Apeldoorn
1 guideFun facts
Things about Apeldoorn your kids will remember
The world's first free-roaming primate zoo
When Apenheul opened, it was the first zoo anywhere in the world to let primates walk freely alongside human visitors. That is not just a fun fact — it genuinely changed how zoos around the world think about animal welfare.
A palace worth €182 million
Paleis Het Loo underwent a massive restoration that cost €182 million and took years to complete. The result is one of the most beautifully preserved baroque palaces in Europe, and it is right here in Apeldoorn.
Free bikes in a national park
Hoge Veluwe National Park has been lending out free white bicycles to visitors since 1975. There are hundreds of them parked at the entrances, available to anyone with a park ticket. It is one of the most charming traditions in the Netherlands.
Taste Apeldoorn
What to eat with your family in Apeldoorn
Gelderse rookworst met erwtensoep
local favouriteDe Heerlijckheyt Het Loo
This is the regional classic you should not leave without trying. A crisp, juicy smoked sausage made with pork and spices, served alongside thick split pea soup. It is hearty, warming, and very Gelderland.
Poffertjes
kids love itLocal market stalls in the city centre
Tiny fluffy pancakes dusted with icing sugar and a generous knob of butter. You will find them at street stalls throughout the city and kids almost universally love them. A perfect mid-morning snack between attractions.
Dutch-French fusion
must tryHuisje James
Huisje James is known for its cosy garden setting and a menu that blends Dutch and French cooking in a relaxed, unfussy way. It is a lovely spot for a family dinner after a long day at the palace or the park.
Dutch seafood courses
safe choiceSizzles at the Park
If your family enjoys seafood, Sizzles at the Park is worth a visit for its elegant take on Dutch fish dishes. The setting is smart but the atmosphere is welcoming enough for families.
Bitterballen and appeltaart
daily treatCafes throughout the city centre
No Dutch city visit is complete without bitterballen — crispy fried ragout balls served with mustard — and a slice of deep-filled Dutch appeltaart with cinnamon and raisins. Both are easy to find at cafes across Apeldoorn and are reliable crowd-pleasers.
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