Apeldoorn Off the Beaten Path Tips by vtveen

Monument to mark the 55th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands and to serve as a lasting reminder of the role of Canadian soldiers in securing that freedom.

The statue was unveiled by Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet, who lives in Apeldoorn.

The monument symbolizes the historic bonds between Canada and the Netherlands. It is a mysterous figure, which seems to be waving both hands with a hat in each one.

In November an annual memorial takes place around this monument to honour the 7000 Canadian war victims during the liberation of the Netherlands. A couple of years ago (2005) a special plaque, a gift of the Canadian Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, was unveiled. This gift was already given to the people of Apeldoorn during the celebrations in May.

The monument is situated near the entrance of 'Het Loo Palace', an absolutely must see site in Apeldoorn.
Accessible by regular buses from the train/bus station:
- intercity line: 102 and 104 - stop "Paleis Het Loo"
- local line: 5 and 10 - stop "Gedenknaald"

See also tip: "birth of the Canadalaan"

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"Deze boom werd geplant
op 29 december 1945
door Luit. Gen. G.G. Simonds
commandant van het
IIe Canadese legerkorps
dat Nederland bevrijdde"

(This tree was planted
on December 29 of 1945
by Lieutenant-General G.G. Simonds
commander of the
2e Canadian Army Corps
which liberated the Netherlands)

That is the text on a plaque, which is situated at the Loolaan, near the "Grote Kerk" ( building at the background of the picture). It is one of the remembrances of the liberation of Apeldoorn by the Canadians. The other one is the monument "Man with Two Hats" (see off the beaten path tip).

The planting of this tree (off course a Canadian maple) was also the 'birth' of the Canadalaan (former Marialaan), which starts at this point.

See also tip: "Man with Two Hats"

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The Paleispark (Park of the Palace) is part of the so called 'Kroondomein Het Loo', a large forest behind the Palace Het Loo.

The Paleispark is the part close to the palace and was used by the royal family (who lived here for years) for walks and hunting. There are also a tea- bath and a boathouse on the shore of one of the romantic lakes. Everywhere are small streams and wells.

Excellent for walks; from the main entrance are three signposted (loop)walks (3, 5 and 7 km's).
Entrance: car park Palace Het Loo; there is a ticket machine at the left side of the car park and you need euro coins to pay (entrance fee € 1,50 - 2006). (During April and May is the garden with the castle 'Het Oude Loo' open for public with the same ticket)

The entrance is accessible with regular buses from the train/bus station:
- inter city line: 102 and 104 - stop "Paleis Het Loo"
- local line: 5 and 10 - stop "Gedenknaald"

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Website: www.kroondomeinhetloo.nl

An old hunting castle, next to the more well-known Palace Het Loo (now a museum), most probably built in the 16th century.

Nowadays used by the Dutch royal family for ceremonies and to accommodate (foreign) visitors.

Castle: closed for public
Gardens around the castle are open for public ONLY in April and May. Lots of rhododendrons and azalea's.

Excellent for walks; from the main entrance are three signposted (loop)walks (3, 5 and 7 km's), in combination with a visit to the Paleispark.
Entrance: car park Palace Het Loo; there is a ticket machine at the left side of the car park and you need euro coins to pay (entrance fee € 1,50 - 2006). (During April and May is the garden with the castle 'Het Oude Loo' open for public with the same ticket)

The entrance is accessible with regular buses from the train/bus station:
- inter city line: 102 and 104 - stop "Paleis Het Loo"
- local line: 5 and 10 - stop "Gedenknaald"

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Close to Palace “Het Loo” you can find a memorial column called “De Naald’ (The Needle). This obelisk is a gift of the citizens of Apeldoorn to our former Queen Wilhelmina and Duke Hendrik of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in honour of their engagement on October 16 in the year 1900.
It was unveiled on 09.03.1901 by Queen Emma in the presence of Wilhelmina and Hendrik.

This memorial column is 17 metres high and made of stone with a bronze plaque with the portraits of King William III and Queen Emma. It was designed by G. de Zeeuw. Nowadays it is a national monument.

“De Naald” is situated at the end of the Loolaan, one of the most impressive avenues in the Netherlands, running from the city to the palace. On the other side of the crossing is our Canadian War Monument – “Man with Two Hats”.

(On the picture you can see one of the driveways to the palace starting just behind the monument.)

Accessible with regulare buses from the bus/train station:
- inter city line: 102 and 104 - stop "Paleis Het Loo"
- local line: 5 and 10 - stop "Gedenknaald"

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The Grote Kerk (Large Church) was built in 1892 on the foundations of an even older church of 1842 (financed by King Willem I).

It is one of the oldest and largest churches in Apeldoorn and was and is a 'royal' church. Queen Wilhelmina often went to the Grote Kerk and nowadays there are still royal weddings and christening ceremonies.

In front of the church is a statue of former Queen Wilhelmina.

Open for visitors: Wednesday and Saturday afternoon from 1.30 - 3.30 pm (May till September).

In walking distance from downtown Apeldoorn, just opposite the theatre 'Orpheus'.

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Website: http://home.hetnet.nl/~vriendenvandegrotekerk

Queen Wilhelmina had a strong bond with Apeldoorn. She was often on Palace Het Loo and lived here until she died in 1962.

Although the palace has its own chapel, she often went to church in the 'Grote Kerk'.
In front of 'her' church you will find this statue, unveiled in 1998. It is a memory of the 100th anniversary of the coronation of Wilhelmina as queen of the Netherlands. On that particular moment she was just 18 years old.

The statue is made by Greet Grottendieck, a sculptress living in Wenum Wiesel near Apeldoorn and was a gift of Rotary Apeldoorn.

(see also: tip about the "Grote Kerk" and the shopping tip of a replica of this statue)

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Saturday August 13 Queen Beatrix unveiled a stained-glass window in the 'Grote Kerk' in Apeldoorn.

This very colourful window is a present from the citizens and employers of the town as a tribute for the 25 years of being queen of the Netherlands.

This window is put into the church on the left side of the pulpit and the huge church organ (on the other side is a window in honour of former Queen Wilhelmina).

Artist Huub Kurvers designed this stained window with several coats of arms and the colours of our national flag: red, white and blue.

See for openinghours of the church my other tip about the Grote Kerk.

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The (new) town hall of Apeldoorn has to be the heart of the city; a building in which officials, civil servants and visitors feel comfortable; a meeting and reception place.

Architect Hans Ruijssenaars created the building and did succeed in using as much as possible of daylight. Everybody is surprised by the mount of light inside the building. This fact is intensified by the white colours of the walls and ceilings. The best place to see the impact of this way of building is the impressive main entrance hall with its staircases to the upper floors.

The town hall is open for the workers and the public since the year of 1993. There are offices for about 1.000 civil servants.

The town hall is located at the Marktplein in the heart of the city centre of Apeldoorn; just 500 metres from the train and bus station (with a bus stop just opposite the building) and also easy accessible by car with a huge parking garage beneath the building.

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Website: www.apeldoorn.nl
Other Contact: www.hansruijssenaars.nl/8860.htm

Another piece of 'Royal Apeldoorn'. This statue of King William I is situated on the Raadhuisplein in front of the old town hall of Apeldoorn and he is now overlooking the main shopping street of my hometown.

King William I was one of the royal inhabitants of the palace Het Loo, after the decision of the government to put the palace at the disposal of the royal family. He often stayed in Apeldoorn.

This statue is a remembrance of the 100th anniversary of the independence of the kingdom of the Netherlands and was a gift of citizens of Apeldoorn. It was unveiled on September 2 in 1913. It was made by the sculptor Pieter Puype.

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