The 'forgotten' provinces of the Netherlands, Overijssel and Gelderland, combine historic trade centres of abundant cultural wealth with natural beauty. Hoge Veluwe National Park, containing the Kröller-Müller Museum, should star in any Dutch itinerary.
Gelderland embraces a lush green landscape of vast heathlands, forests and meandering dykes. During WWII, its capital, Arnhem, was heavily bombed and its river bridges destroyed during the disastrous Operation Market Garden, but the town has since risen from the ashes to become a sparky, modern place.
With the majestic IJssel River forming much of Overijssels western border, it's not surprising that this small province in Central Netherlands is called Overijsse or 'Across the IJssel'. In the east, next door to Germany, the lay of the land is refreshingly hilly, while 'flat and soggy' sums up the former coastline in the west.
These are the top experiences and sights in Gelderland & Overijssel, according to Lonely Planet.
