Discover the Other Holland

Amsterdam is up there as one of Europe’s most popular city break destinations, but when it comes to exploring more of Holland, don’t miss out on Gelderland, a region filled with picture-postcard landscapes, majestic castles and towns and cities that are steeped in history.

Next time you’re in Holland, take a chance on Arnhem and Nijmegen and the outstandingly beautiful area of The Veluwe. Indulge in the wide range of attractions, museums and events –  the following are just a few must-do stops…

As you’d expect from Holland’s oldest city, Nijmegen is something of a living museum. History is reflected all around, from its magnificent buildings to its parks and gardens.

The combination of bustling pavement cafés, lively nightlife venues, modern shopping streets and unique boutiques is a great example of how well old and new can combine.

To see the city really come to life, visit in July when Nijmegen lays on a host of special festivities for the annual Four Days’ Marches (the biggest walking event in the world).

Read any guide to Arnhem and you’ll find it peppered with references to World War II. The Battle of Arnhem, which played out on the banks of the Rhine in September 1944, was part of Operation Market Garden and is one of the city’s biggest claims to fame. On a more modern note, Arnhem is also known for its innovative fashion and design.

Fashion lovers are spoilt for choice in the city centre. Stroll through the seven narrow streets of shops known as ‘7straatjes’ or go window shopping through the ‘Modekwartier’ fashion quarter. The influence of young talent from the ArtEZ Institute of the Arts (Viktor and Rolf graduated here) can be clearly seen in the numerous studios and boutiques.

The Veluwe is one of the largest continuous areas of natural beauty in Western Europe and needs to be seen to be believed. Pack your walking boots – thick forests, heathlands, grassy plains and gently sloping landscapes await.

Short on time? You can also explore the Veluwe using the free white bikes available at various locations across the park. See if you can spot the ‘big four’ in the park; red deer, wild boars, mouflons and roe deer!

Located approximately half an hour from the larger city of Arnhem, Ede is home to the Kröller-Müller Museum, which houses the second largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world.

The collection includes almost 90 paintings and over 180 drawings. Around 40 works by Vincent van Gogh are on display at any one time, alongside masterpieces by modern masters such as Claude Monet, Georges Seurat, Pablo Picasso and Piet Mondrian.

Meanwhile in the museum’s sculpture garden, you’ll find around 160 sculptures by iconic artists including Aristide Maillol, Jean Dubuffet, Marta Pan and Pierre Huyghe.

In Apeldoorn lies Paleis Het Loo, the former 300-year-old palace; which was once home to King-Stadholder William III of England and Queen Mary II of England.

This former summer residence of the Dutch royal family has been open to the public since 1984. The interior design of the rooms takes you through more than three hundred years of residence by the Orange-Nassau dynasty.

While you’re here, don’t miss a walk around the palace’s baroque gardens which are open to the public from April to October.

For more information on Gelderland, see: Holland.com and @VisitHolland

Flights to Holland

- Ryanair Staff