🌞 Veluwe Solstice Camping Weekend 🌞

This June, Veluwe Power Hikers invite you to celebrate the longest days of the year surrounded by nature’s beauty. We’ll venture deep into the Veluwe for a weekend of hiking, campfires, and peaceful evenings under the stars — in the wild heart of the Netherlands.

Highlights of the weekend include:

• The Leuvenumse Beek — one of the most beautiful and pristine streams in the Netherlands. Thanks to ancient clay layers from the last ice age, this rare lowland stream still winds naturally through the forest, forming a network of brooks, marshes, and waterways that overflow during heavy rains.
• The Hulshorsterzand — a true desert landscape where we’ll take a break on what might just be the softest, naturally-formed bench in the world (at least, it feels that way!).
• The Dancing Trees Forest — a magical part of the Veluwe where ancient beeches twist and bend into strange, flowing shapes, as if caught mid-dance. Walking through this forest feels like stepping into a living fairytale, where every tree seems to have a story to tell.
• The mystical Solse Gat — according to legend, a monastery once stood here until it was swallowed by the earth because of the monks' wicked ways. The site remains a magnet for seekers of hidden energies and local folklore. To this day, the town of Putten continues to try to prevent gatherings of witches in the area on Walpurgis night (this is not a joke! Google it).

☀️ Why this weekend is special: the summer solstice
June 21 is the longest day of the year—the sun at its highest, the forest at its fullest. We’ll mark the solstice with long hikes, evenings around the fire, and quiet moments under the open sky.

🚶‍♂️ Weekend plan
We’ll explore two distinct Veluwe forest areas, each with its own character.

• Saturday (June 21): 28 km Solstice Hike through the Ermelose heathlands, into the cool, shady Leuvenumse creek forest, and across the open sands of the Hulshorsterzand.
• Sunday (June 22): 10 km Forest Walk — a gentler route through the enchanting ‘dancing trees’ forest, where the twisted trunks seem to whisper ancient secrets. We will also visit the mysterious Solse Gat.

We’ll stay at Logeren bij de Boswachter: Ermelo, a peaceful campsite surrounded by the ancient Veluwe forest.

🗺️ Arrival & Meeting Point
Please arrive between 11h30 and 12h00 to pitch your tent and eat something. We start hiking at 13h sharp after lunch.

Sprielderweg 207, 3852 MK Ermelo
https://maps.app.goo.gl/qbhFeTdC35XvHrr86

💰 Price: €34 early bird / €39 regular

• Campsite fee
• Travel & logistics of the organizer
• Fully guided hikes

Early bird price is €34 if paid before May 5 at 23:59. After that, the price is €39. Payment via Tikkie—your spot is confirmed once payment is received. Please include your Meetup name in the payment note if it’s different from your real name.

You can confirm your spot by transferring the amount to 'Solstice weekend' via this Tikkie link: https://tikkie.me/pay/t8nu4stqfv6m25qr0f5a

👥 Maximum number of people
I can host up to 5 hikers under my camping card. For every additional group of 6 hikers, I’ll purchase a new camping card. I’ll just need one volunteer per group to help with the simple card management — and as a bonus, this person gets to keep the camping card (worth €15) for own use for the rest of the year! The maximum number of participants is 18.

🎒 What to bring

• Tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag
• Food and snacks for the weekend
• Cooking gear and gas
• Headlamp or flashlight
• Toilet paper
• Your wild spirit 🐾

Facilities include warm showers, toilets, and drinking water.

🔁 Cancellation policy

• If we find a replacement for you: you will receive a full refund.
• If you cancel before June 6:
  - Regular registration: €20 refund
  - Early bird registration: €15 refund
• If the event is cancelled due to weather conditions or low sign-ups: you will receive a full refund.

Please note: After June 6, refunds are no longer possible unless we find a replacement for you.

🌦️ Weather and safety
We hike rain or shine. Only strong winds (e.g. storm warnings, treefall risk) will lead to cancellation for safety, with a full refund.

🛡️ Responsibility
Participation is at your own risk. You're responsible for your own safety, gear, and insurance. VPH accept no liability for damage or loss.

💬 Questions?
Message me or comment on the event page. Once signed up, I’ll make a WhatsApp group for coordination.

Let’s mark the solstice together—in wild forest light and summer stillness.