Recreatiepark Rhederlaagse Meren

Start by taking the 45-minute bike ride (or 20-minute drive) into Arnhem, to wander through the Sonsbeek Park and visit the war museum, for an insight into everyday life during World War II. A few kilometres out of town are Burgers Zoo and the Netherlands Open-air Museum, both of which are top places for a day trip with the nippers (or without – grownups will likely love the zoo’s apes and penguins too). If you’d really like to get up close to the monkeys, head up to Apenheul a 45-minute drive from the site, where more than 200 primates roam freely among the visitors. There’s plenty of wildlife to see in the Veluwezoom National Park too – red deer and wild boar are often spotted here, and it’s a lovely place for a hike, bike ride or horseback trek as well.