🍂🌳Enchanting Streams & Forest Trails: Leuvenumse Beek Veluwe Hike (17k)🌳🍂

Important! To sign up, please pay the € 5,- * Meet Up event fee directly (See notifications for tickie).* From 16 November the fee is € 5,95

This gorgeous 17 km forest hike in the northern Veluwe nature area takes us through varied landscapes, following the idyllic, babbling stream of the Leuvenumse Beek.
Starting at Harderwijk Station, we will soon be immersed in the Harderwijker woods, then captivated by the wild heathlands of Beekhuizerzand Sahara, offering a striking change of scenery. Later, we’ll reach Leuvenumse Forest, where crystal-clear waters meander along the paths. Here and there, the water speeds up, creating small waterfalls—almost un-Dutch!
We’ll end at the busier Leuvenhorst Forest, where you’ll find Staverden Castle, a charming white cottage, a mill, and a cozy restaurant.
In this area, we may encounter wildlife like badgers, red deer, and wild boars. Towards the end of autumn, the forest bursts into warm shades of green, yellow, orange, red, and golden brown, with leaves gently falling and some late-season mushrooms to spot.

📍 Gathering: 10:45 at train station NS Harderwijk. We’ll start after a brief meeting and greeting. The hike ends at Staverden Castle, where we’ll take a bus (by reservation) back to Harderwijk (20 minutes).

Harderwijker woods
Our journey begins in this beautiful historic forest rich with towering pines, majestic oaks, and ancient beeches. Once part of old hunting grounds, these woods offer a peaceful atmosphere, with sunlight filtering through the dense canopy, casting dappled light along the winding trails. This area is also a haven for wildlife—watch for deer grazing in the underbrush or birds flitting through the branches.

Beekhuizerzand Sahara
This vast heathland, often referred to as the "Dutch Sahara," is an open landscape of windswept sand dunes—a peaceful, reflective contrast to the surrounding forest. The shifting sands, remnants of a once-expansive complex stretching from Harderwijk to Hattem, were historically stabilized with heather and conifers. Today, the area is intentionally kept bare, preserving the unique desert-like character within the Veluwe’s dense woods.

Leuvenumse Beek (Stream)
Flowing through the Leuvenumse Forest, this charming 20-km-long stream is one of Gelderland’s most beautiful. It winds from Uddel through a valley between two Veluwe hills before reaching Veluwemeer. Along the banks, ancient majestic beech trees stand gracefully, some reaching up to 46 meters and hundreds of years old. Their autumn leaves cast a golden glow across the water, and the forest comes alive with wild boars, birds feeding on nuts, and woodpeckers searching tree trunks. The stream’s crystal-clear waters, small waterfalls, and the occasional flash of a kingfisher create a serene and picturesque atmosphere.

Restaurant De Zwarte Boer
Dating back to 1855, this historic restaurant was originally a farmhouse. The farmer, known for his black beard, was also the local innkeeper. Inside, a 19th-century fireplace, decorated with portraits of King Willem II and Anna Paulowna, lends a nostalgic charm to the setting.

Estate Leuvenum
This estate dates back to the 1300s, with heathland, forests, and farmland. The stately house, built in 1923, was once the Sandberg family’s property and now belongs to the Sandberg van Leuvenum Foundation. One of the area’s oldest settlements, it may derive its name from "heim" (home), linking it to ancient Germanic heritage.

Staverden Castle, Cottage & Restaurant
This picturesque estate with historic forests and cultural landscapes stretches along the Staverdense Beek. At its center lies a castle-like manor, formerly a court for the counts of Gelderland in the 12th century. Count Reinald I received permission to grant Staverden city rights in 1291, though it never grew into a city. Following tradition, the estate still hosts white peacocks, whose feathers were once used on the Duke’s helmet.

Quotes of the day:
🍁'Autumn Is a Second Spring when Every Leaf is a Flower.'🍁
-Albert Camus-

🍂Autumn sun... Blanket the world with your gentle gold. Let the leaves feel your warmth one more time. Before they fall forever. So they'll remember. 🍂

Join us for this last beautiful autumn hike of the year, where nature’s vibrant colours and the serene forest will leave you feeling refreshed and inspired. Don’t miss out on this special experience!

Notifications:

• Meet up event fee: Eur 5,- (Eur 5,95 from 25-10) to be paid directly when signing up by tickie:
  https://www.ing.nl/payreq/m/?trxid=kNnbt72Gge0Lz8LyqVEacZLNW7OWhb7u
• We walk 4 to 5 km an hour average with 2/3 breaks, you should be fit for it and used to walks of -+ 17 km.
• Be aware that the hike will take the whole day, and the ending time is approximate..
• Bring sufficient water, snacks and lunch, although we might stop at a restaurant.
• Wear comfortable hiking shoes and gear with layers and a rain coat.
• Carpe Diem is an amateur activity group, participating is at your own risk.
• The hike might be adapted/shortened in case of bad/rainy weather. Only with extreme bad weather, or a low number of participants, I may postpone or cancel it. Only in this case, you can receive a refund or credit. Please check messages the evening before the event for last-minute updates.
• Please sign up only if you plan to attend and are ready to pay the fee upon registration. If something unexpected arises, kindly update your RSVP as soon as possible. Please note that the event fee is non-refundable and we kindly ask to avoid last-minute cancellations or no-shows.
• Thank you for your understanding and support in helping to maintain the group with a smooth planning and organization.