Glamping rental Ermelo - 1 glamping

Where Roman Legions Once Marched, You Can Now Rest Your Head

Tucked away in the heart of the Veluwe, the Netherlands' largest connected natural area, lies Ermelo: a town whose name literally translates to something like "divine woods" or "great forest." The name derives from the old words irmin (great, divine, or referring to the Germanic god Irmin) and lo (woods). First recorded in 855 as Irminlo, Ermelo's history stretches back far further, with Bell-Beaker culture archaeological finds and two Roman marching camps discovered on the push moraine east of town. The largest camp once held space for 4,000 to 6,000 legionaries. Today, however, the atmosphere is decidedly more peaceful. Ermelo sits in Gelderland province at roughly 52.30°N, 5.63°E, only about an hour's drive from Amsterdam. The climate is temperate, with mild summers and cool winters, making it a rewarding destination year-round.

Why Ermelo Deserves a Spot on Your Holiday Shortlist

Ermelo is not your average Dutch holiday base. While many visitors to the Netherlands flock to Amsterdam, Utrecht, or the coastal towns, Ermelo offers something rarer: a genuine immersion in nature without sacrificing convenience. The town has its own railway station with trains departing every 30 minutes towards Zwolle to the north and Amersfoort and Utrecht to the south. By car, it is easily reached via the A28 motorway. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, the nearest major international airport, connects seamlessly by train.

What makes a rental in Ermelo so appealing is the sheer variety of landscapes on the doorstep. Within minutes you can find yourself cycling through ancient forests, walking across sweeping heathlands, or lounging on a sandy lakeshore at the Veluwemeer. The town centre itself has a relaxed, walkable character with local bars, restaurants, and shops. Nearby towns like Harderwijk and Apeldoorn are easy day trips, opening up even more possibilities.

For visitors from the USA, UK, Ireland, Australia, Germany, France, or Belgium, Ermelo offers a refreshingly authentic Dutch experience that feels a world apart from crowded tourist hotspots. Book a rental in Ermelo and give yourself the gift of space, silence, and centuries of layered history.

Highlights You Did Not Expect to Find Here

The Smallest City in the Netherlands

Just five kilometres east of Ermelo lies Staverden, which received its city rights in 1298 from the German King Rudolph. Despite those grand medieval ambitions, Staverden never grew into a proper city. Today it has only a few dozen inhabitants and is officially the smallest city in the Low Countries. The Staverden estate features a castle, castle gardens with white peacocks, a chapel, and the atmospheric Stadsbrouwerij Staverden (a craft brewery housed in the former coach house of the castle). It is a fairy-tale setting that feels entirely removed from the modern world.

The Forest of the Dancing Trees

The Speulderbos, partly within the municipality of Ermelo, has been declared the most beautiful forest in the Netherlands by the Dutch Forestry Commission. Near the hamlet of Drie, roughly 300 hectares of ancient beeches and oaks have grown into whimsical, twisted shapes. The crooked trees were historically spared from being felled because they were unsuitable for building boats, leaving them to grow into what locals affectionately call "dancing trees." Legend even has it that the trees are horsemen who were cursed and turned into their current forms. In autumn, the forest floor is blanketed in mushrooms and mosses, making it a paradise for photographers and nature lovers alike.

The Ermelosche Heide and Its Sheepfold

The Ermelosche Heide is a vast expanse of heathland that turns a spectacular shade of purple when the heather blooms in August. In its midst sits the Schaapskooi (sheepfold) of Ermelo, home to a flock of around 300 Veluwse heather sheep. The sheep go out onto the heath with their shepherd and dogs almost daily. Next to the sheepfold is a visitor centre where you can learn about the local ecosystem, bees, and wool processing. You can also view ancient burial mounds scattered across the heath, some dating back over 4,000 years.

A Lakeside Beach with Surf Credentials

Most people do not expect to find surfing in the middle of the Netherlands, but Strand Horst, the recreation area along the Veluwemeer within Ermelo's municipality, is considered one of the best surfing and kitesurfing spots in the country. The shallow, safe waters of the Wolderwijd make it ideal for learning. There is also a ferry crossing the Veluwemeer between Horst beach and Zeewolde, exclusively for pedestrians and cyclists. The recreation area spans roughly 160 hectares and is freely accessible 365 days a year.

Music Festivals and Equestrian Heritage

Ermelo hosts a surprising range of cultural events. The Fete de la Musique, Multipop festival, and the International Boogie Woogie Festival all call Ermelo home. Sports fans may be intrigued to learn that the National Equestrian Center of the Dutch National Equestrian Federation (KNHS) is located here, hosting European and World dressage championships. Even top football clubs like Valencia CF and the Portuguese national team have used Ermelo as a pre-season training base.

Five Things to Do That Are Not in Every Guidebook

1. Follow the Cultural History Trail through the Speulderbos. This marked hiking route takes you past 4,000-year-old burial mounds, through the "dancing" forest, and to the mysterious Solse Gat, a deep pit surrounded by legends of a sunken monastery with monks who are said to wander at midnight.

2. Taste craft beer at Stadsbrouwerij Staverden. Set inside the former coach house of Staverden Castle, this brewery offers tastings, guided tours, and seasonal brews. Pair your beer with local bites while sitting on the terrace overlooking the castle grounds. It is a destination that beer enthusiasts and history buffs will equally enjoy.

3. Take the ferry from Horst beach to Zeewolde. This pedestrian-and-cyclist-only ferry crosses the Veluwemeer, giving you a unique perspective on the landscape and depositing you in the province of Flevoland, the newest land in Europe (reclaimed from the sea in the 20th century). Bring a bicycle and make it a cross-province adventure.

4. Visit the Schaapskooi at dawn during lambing season. In February and March, the sheepfold is full of lambs and their mothers. Arrive early to watch the shepherd prepare the flock for the day and to have the heathland trails almost entirely to yourself. The visitor centre also has an observation beehive on the upper floor where you can watch a working bee colony up close.

5. Explore the windmill De Koe in the town centre. This classic windmill, dating from 1863 and quirkily named "The Cow," was struck by lightning and partially burned down in 1990, only to be painstakingly restored to working order by 2008. Its story is a small testament to Ermelo's resilient community spirit.

Practical Tips for Your Stay

• Ermelo is very well suited for cycling. The area has an extensive network of numbered cycling junctions (knooppunten) that make it easy to plan routes of any length without getting lost.
• The best time to visit for heather in bloom is August. For forest colours, aim for October and November. Spring (April to June) is ideal for mild weather and lambing season.
• Renting a car is not strictly necessary due to the excellent train connections and cycling infrastructure, but it can be helpful for exploring the wider Veluwe region, including attractions like Paleis Het Loo in Apeldoorn, the Kroller-Muller Museum, and the Apenheul primate park.
• The Hoge Veluwe National Park, one of the Netherlands' most celebrated nature reserves covering 5,500 hectares of forest, heathland, and shifting sands, is within easy reach. Entry includes free use of the park's famous white bicycles (1,800 in total).
• Ermelo's town centre has a range of dining options, from traditional Dutch pancake houses to Asian restaurants and tapas bars.

A Town Named After the Gods, Made for Mortals Who Need a Break

Ermelo is the sort of place that surprises you. It has the deep forests and heathlands you dream about, the lakeside beaches you did not know existed in the Netherlands, and a history that stretches back to Roman legions and Germanic mythology. It is accessible from all major Dutch cities and airports, yet it feels genuinely remote and unspoiled. Book a rental in Ermelo and step into a landscape where ancient trees dance, the smallest city in the country brews its own beer, and the pace of life slows to match the rhythm of a shepherd and his flock crossing the purple heath.