Maarn, Leersum, Driebergen

Off the beaten track, the Utrechtse Heuvelrug and Gelderse Vallei are full of things that give meaning to the landscape. This route tells you a lot about the history of these natural areas. How nature was formed and how the interaction between man and nature determined what the landscape looks like today. On this tour, you will discover relics from the ice age, the 20th century and even from just a few years ago. The power of nature and the influence of man are central to this.

The Utrechtse Heuvelrug and Gelderse Vallei form a tandem. Over 150,000 years ago, the hill region was formed as deposits from the great rivers were finely pressed down during the penultimate ice age. Gelderse Valley was formed when the ice retreated after the ice age. Since then, this lower part of the landscape lies between the Veluwe and the Utrechtse Heuvelrug. In the present, the alternation between the wooded hills and the open, green valley is a beautiful setting to spend a day hiking through nature.

You can see this alternation very nicely at the Leersumse Veld, which lies exactly at the transition between the hills and the valley. The little pools and ponds that lie here in the open landscape, near the Leersumse Berg, show how the landscape varies. They are lower than the surrounding area because a lot of subsoil was pushed away here, which actually made the Hill Ridge higher. The Leersumse Veld marks the beginning of Gelderse Valley.

Later, the landscape was further shaped by man. Man used the hills and the wet valley to his advantage for transport and during wars. Near Maarn, for instance, an old sand quarry can be found, where sand was extracted for the construction of highways and railway lines. This place has since been given back to nature. Birds, flowers and plants find a resting area there. Further on, outside the woods, you cycle along the Grebbelinie. Here, the valley was used as a weapon and conveniently flooded. The line was even still used in World War II, when Germany invaded the Netherlands.

You will discover the Heuvelrug and the Valley via an alternative route that stays away from busy roads. The quiet paths around Maarn, the winding roads near Woudenberg, the open polder stretches near Doorn and the forest paths of Driebergen and Zeist will lead you around during this round trip. Along the way, there are opportunities at the Beauforthuis, the Wapen van Sandenburg and Klein Zwitserland to have something to eat and drink in the serene surroundings.


This premium cycle route has been compiled by our editor: Huub Mol