Veluwezoom bossen bij Rheden

Old avenues and glacial ridge forest

The forests near Rheden, on the edge of the Veluwezoom, are built on a glacial ridge. This is a range of hills pushed up by glaciers during the ice age. As a result, the terrain rises and falls considerably, which gives you something rare in an otherwise flat country: changes in elevation, depth, and a landscape that shifts character as you move through it.

The old avenues are the heart of this area. Beeches and oaks that have stood for decades, with trunks wide enough to disappear behind. The avenues run dead straight in places, with a gentle curve in others. Both work well as leading lines. A telephoto lens around 100 to 135mm compresses the trunks together nicely. With a wide-angle lens, say 24mm, you get closer to the ground and really draw the viewer into the frame.

Autumn is the season

Head out in October or early November. The beeches turn deep orange and yellow, and the ground is covered in fallen leaves. That is not only good for wide overview shots, it is also ideal for macro photography. A drop of water on a fallen leaf, moss on tree roots, the texture of birch bark: you can spend hours on your knees without making the same photograph twice.

The best light is early in the morning, just after sunrise. Mist sometimes still drifts through the avenues then, and backlight sets the leaves aglow. In the afternoon, particularly on overcast days, diffuse light works well for macro. There are no harsh shadows, and colours come through evenly.

Practical

You can park in Rheden itself or at the Posbank, which is a little further north. From both points you are quickly into the forest. Bear in mind that the Posbank can get very busy at weekends and during fine autumn weather, including the car parks. Go early or visit on a weekday. The area falls within Nationaal Park Veluwezoom, managed by Natuurmonumenten. Drones are not permitted in this area without an exemption. The paths are freely accessible to walkers and photographers on foot.

Sources and further reading

• Nationaal Park Veluwezoom, Natuurmonumenten
• Nationaal Park Veluwezoom (officiële parksite)
• Wikipedia: Veluwezoom