Veluwe Power Hikers

We begin our journey in Hoenderloo, at the gateway to the Veluwe, and step directly into the heart of De Hoge Veluwe National Park. This hike is part of our Heather in Bloom series, and now it is the turn of the Hoge Veluwe to reveal its colours.

The highlight of the day will be reaching one of the largest and most breathtaking heather fields of the entire park, now transformed into a vast sea of glowing purple. Yet the route offers much more: we will pass through wide open grasslands, shady forests, and shifting sandy plains that make this National Park such a unique and varied landscape.

It will be a day to enjoy the park in all its diversity, with the heather in full bloom as the crown jewel. And with a bit of luck, we may also encounter some of the park’s wildlife — 🦌 deer, 🐗 wild boar, and perhaps even traces of the 🐺 wolf.

📍When and where to meet?
We’ll meet at the entrance of the Hoge Veluwe National Park at the entrance in Hoenderloo at 12h15. We’ll start shortly afterwards! Please be on time, as we don't wait for latecomers.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jzPJ4jcRsS4UL6nYA

🏁 Finish
We’ll end the hike at the same location as we started, since this is a loophike.

🚗 Coming by car?
There is plenty of parking space at the entry of the park.

⏸️ Planned Breaks
There will be 3 breaks, including a lunch break in nature (to be updated later)

💸 Payment
Please pay as soon as you sign up: To keep things fair for everyone, if we don’t receive your payment within 48 hours, we will need to remove you from the participant list. If there’s a waiting list, this will happen sooner (in less than 48 hours). If that happens, no worries — you’re always welcome to sign up again if there’s space.

“If the event is full, please join the waiting list. I will add more spots later depending on demand”

We begin at Ede-Wageningen station, where the Airborne Red Devils will welcome us with live 1940s music. We meet at 08:30, but if you arrive earlier you can already enjoy their performance from 08:00 at the station square.

From there we head into the woods towards the Ginkelse Heide, one of the original landing zones of Operation Market Garden in September 1944. Here thousands of British paratroopers — the “Airborne” troops — jumped in an attempt to secure the bridges across the Rhine. Each year this history is brought to life again with ceremonies, re-enactments, and parachute drops. Between 10:00 and 11:30 we will witness the full morning airshow: hundreds of parachutists descending from the skies and aircraft flying over the heath.

The roads and cycle paths will be crowded, but we have a secret weapon — our feet. We will hike through the quieter forests and continue to the next highlight in Renkum. Here the story continues with the Race to the Bridge which sets off at 14:00, retracing the route of the paratroopers, while the nearby Living History Basecamp offers WWII vehicles, re-enactors, and authentic field camps. With good weather, you may still spot planes and parachutes overhead as the drops continue at the Ginkelse Heide.

In the afternoon we continue towards Wageningen, following the scenic Bergpad mountain trail with its sweeping views across the valley. We end our reconnaissance loop at Wageningen bus station.

📍When and where to meet?
We’ll meet at 08:30 at the top of the right-hand stairs next to the toilets when you come out of the tunnel of the station towards the plaza, where you can also see the concert. Please be on time—we’ll start sharp!

🏁 Finish
We’ll end the hike back in Wageningen bus station, this is NOT a loop hike.

🚗 Coming by car?
There are several car parks around Ede-Wageningen station, but with such a busy event I can’t recommend any specific one. It’s best to park a little further away and walk to the station. Often I see people arriving by car who end up late and miss the hike—don’t be that person! When we arrive at Wageningen BUS station, you can take a 20 min bus back to Ede-Wageningen TRAIN station.

⏸️ The Plan

🕗 Start: 08:30 at Ede-Wageningen station (arrive earlier if you want to hear the Red Devils from 08:00)
🚶 First leg: 7 km forest walk → arrive Ginkelse Heide at 10:00
🪂 Morning program Airborne Ede: 10:00 –11:30 (1,5 hours free time)
🚶 Second leg: 8 km across heath & forest → Renkum
🪂 Afternoon program Airborne Renkum: 13:30–15:00 (1.5 hours free time, including Race to the Bridge at 14:00 + Living History Basecamp)
🚶 Third leg: 9 km via the Bergpad mountain trail → Wageningen
⏰ Finish: around 17h - 18h at Wageningen bus station

💸 Payment
Please pay as soon as you sign up: To keep things fair for everyone, if we don’t receive your payment within 48 hours, we will need to remove you from the participant list. If there’s a waiting list, this will happen sooner (in less than 48 hours). If that happens, no worries — you’re always welcome to sign up again if there’s space.