A Veluwe Adventure: Bikes, Sheep, and unexpected joy
During my holiday, I spent the first week on Texel, home to the famous Texel sheep, and the second week exploring Garderen, a charming village in the Veluwe.
The Veluwe is famous for its tremendous diversity of landscape, which consists of a mix of forest, heath (Dutch called heide), and even sand dunes.
While I was well aware of the Texel sheep, I hadn’t realized that just a short bike ride from our hotel was the Ermelosche Heide, a stunning moorland with a hidden gem: the Schaapskooi of Ermelo.
I always make a to-do list for my holidays or city trips as I am very practical and try to be efficient.
As much as I love planning, I even more so enjoy the spontaneous adventure and exploration of local attractions and sightseeing. Often I find what I call “local treasures” by accident. That mix of structure and spontaneity is what brings joy to my travels.
Biking is my favorite way to explore. It’s (again) practical, fun, and you get further and see more along a healthy bike trip.
Across the Heide in Search of Sheep
On our first evening, after dinner, we took our bikes and headed out. That’s when we came across the Schaapskooi Ermelo. It was closed by then, but looking over the gate, I saw picnic tables, a cozy barn with a little restaurant. An atmosphere, which was very inviting and I knew we had to come back.
The next day, we returned and learned the sheep were out grazing on the heide.
The Veluwe, in Gelderland, is a vast nature reserve with forests, heaths, and drifting sands.
The Ermelose Heide is a large area, and although we tried to find the herd, it felt like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Still, the ride was beautiful especially with my picnic basket with me filled with a nice lunch.
Back at the Schaapskooi, we learned that every day, around a certain time, the shepherd returns with the flock. Surprise! The shepherd was a woman. That was new to me, and honestly, I found it wonderful.
On our third day, we made sure to arrive before the sheep’s return.
People gathered around in anticipation, and I felt like a child on a school trip, or maybe like a parent waiting for her son to come home after his schooltrip.
It was joyful, simple, and memorable.
A final note that stuck with me: at the Schaapskooi, a simple sign read:
“We do not charge admission. As a courtesy, please buy something in our restaurant or store so we can stay open to the public.”
To me, that sign said so much about hospitality, respect, and community.
I bought some sheep souveniers for my sheep collection. We ate the best of homemade applepie with my daily need for coffee.
A Simple Moment, A Lasting Feeling
Besides Garderen, we also visited Deventer and, for the first time, Paleis Het Loo in Apeldoorn.
But being so close to the sheep, watching them arrive, and feeling that childlike excitement?
That was my number one experience of our four day trip.
It was so simple. I was so happy and excited as I connected with my inner child.
There’s a sign in my house that I’ve had for nearly a decade:
“Enjoy the little things in life, because one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.”
