Did you know that Arnhem was not created on the Rhine, but on the Sint Jansbeek? As far back as the Middle Ages, there were ten water mills here, used to grind grain and oak bark. Park Sonsbeek can therefore be seen as the oldest business park in Arnhem!
Walk through Park Sonsbeek and discover the variety of historical and natural elements. During this 5 km walk you will pass seepage sites, spring heads and waterfalls where mills once stood. Go back in time and discover everything about the unique history of Sint Jansbeek and the mills.
What does the walk look like?
You start at Bothaplein where the Prümer mill stood until 1899. Now this place is occupied by the bridge with elegant lanterns. From here the stream runs underground to the center of the city. Follow the stream towards Park Sonsbeek where you will find various ponds, sprinklers and waterfalls. You will also pass the Ice Cellar, which was built in the 18th century for Baron De Smeth and was used as a refrigerator. Before you end this route, stop by the Dutch Water Museum. This is an interactive hands-on museum where you can learn everything about (fresh) water. At the last stop the Witte Molen; part of the Molenplaats Sonsbeek visitor center, you can have a snack and a drink at the ‘A Beautiful Mess’ in the adjacent Molenschuur. From the terrace you can see how the Sint Jansbeek flows further towards the center, eventually flowing into the Rhine at the Rijnkade.
How do you get to the starting point?
Are you coming by public transport? From Arnhem Central Station you can reach Bothaplein, the starting location of this walk, within 10 minutes. You can park for a fee on the Zypendaalseweg: zone 26033. Further along on the Zypendaalseweg (just before the Parkweg intersection) you can park without paying. This is about a 15-minute walk to the starting location. In addition, you can park in surrounding neighborhoods for a maximum of 2 hours with a blue parking disc.
- Category:
- Walking
- Walking route
