Park Sonsbeek - Arnhem

Cycling is not allowed everywhere in this park, but all sights in Park Sonsbeek can be reached by bicycle.

In the 18th century, Sonsbeek consisted of three separate areas: the Wildbaan, the Hartgersberg (Hartjesberg) and Sonsbeek. The latter name is said to be a corruption of St Jansbeek, which runs there. On the Hartgersberg, city carpenter Anthony Viervant built a house in 1742 that now forms the core of the present house. Later, the construction of a domed room and the side wings follow. Theodorus baron de Smeth merges the above three sites. Already initiated terrain changes to landscape style are continued and a grand park emerges, with differences in height, old groups of trees, open meadows, vistas, water features and water mills. To prevent further encroachment by property developers, the municipality of Arnhem secures Sonsbeek by purchase in 1899.

Visitors' centre Molenplaats Sonsbeek is located on the edge of Park Sonsbeek: the place for information and inspiration about green and green experiences in Arnhem.
At Molenplaats Sonsbeek, visitors can learn and discover all about green in the city and its importance. The visitor centre is the ideal starting point for an introduction to Arnhem's beautiful parks and other natural areas. Besides information about nature in and around Arnhem, the visitor centre also organises numerous other activities in the fields of landscape, biodiversity and cultural history, as well as health and climate resilience. The visitor centre has been part of Natuurcentrum Arnhem since January 2020. The visitor centre's 18th-century Molenschuur houses restaurant ‘A Beautiful Mess’ where you can enjoy coffee, tea and an Oriental-style lunch. In the adjacent historic Witte Watermolen (15th century), you can see how grain is milled into organic flour.

At Villa Sonsbeek, lying lazily in the grass, you will find the Lazy King. This artwork by Frenchman Alain Séchas was acquired by the municipality of Arnhem after the Sonsbeek 2008 art exhibition. It is an accessible work of art full of humour. On a nice summer's day, it is a meeting and playing place for park visitors.