Last updated May 2026
Arnhem, the capital of the Gelderland province, is a city of contrasts: rebuilt in a modern way after severe WWII destruction, yet surrounded by some of the most beautiful nature in the Netherlands. It’s a city best known for a fierce battle in World War 2, Operation Market Garden: the British 1st Airborne Division were given the task of securing the bridge at Arnhem. There was a movie made about this, called “A Bridge too Far”, although the movie was filmed in Deventer, as the Arnhem area changed too much to represent WWII-era Arnhem.
A day trip to Arnhem, Netherlands, might involve an encounter with the city’s turbulent history, a nature escape in Sonsbeek Park, and a shopping session in the famous Modekwartier. Arnhem is a fashion city, offering a great shopping experience. That was obvious when I visited, as the streets in the city centre were packed with shops and people, more than I’ve seen in any Dutch city centre. Arnhem is not your typical pretty Dutch city, with old architecture. The city was rebuilt after the WW2 destruction, in a more modern way. There are old houses in the city centre, as well as other old structures here and there, in the city, but the vibe is mainly a modern one. I visited Arnhem on an overcast day, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy the city. Au contraire! The streets were buzzing with people going around shopping and enjoying a Sunday afternoon. The city was pretty much alive. The feel was more of a residential city than a tourist destination, a thing I think many of us admire nowadays.
I would recommend Arnhem for a chill day trip, for an experience of the local Dutch life and as a starting point for a nature adventure (given the proximity with the wonderful Veluwe).
✨Day-trip suitability
International visitors: ● ● ● ○ ○ — Best for curious explorers
NL-based day-trippers: ● ● ● ● ○ — A great day outEspecially interesting for those interested in the WW2.
● Circles indicate suitability, not quality. Some subjectivity included. How to read these ratings 📜
Why visit Arnhem
✨ Why Arnhem?
Arnhem isn’t the prettiest city in the Netherlands, and that’s part of its appeal. While most Dutch cities trade on Golden Age charm, Arnhem tells a different story: one of destruction, resilience, and reinvention. The city was devastated during Operation Market Garden in 1944 and rebuilt with a modern, forward-looking spirit.
What you get today is a city that’s surprisingly alive: a thriving fashion scene (it’s officially the fashion capital of the Netherlands), world-class museums, a moving WWII history, and some of the best urban parks in the country. Add the Hoge Veluwe National Park on its doorstep, and you have a day trip that’s genuinely unlike any other in the Netherlands.
A Brief History of Arnhem
Arnhem’s history is long: it received city rights in 1233, but for most international visitors, one event defines the city: the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. As part of Operation Market Garden, the British 1st Airborne Division was tasked with capturing the bridge over the Nederrijn. They held it for four days against overwhelming German forces, but reinforcements never arrived. The bridge became known as “a bridge too far.”
The battle left much of Arnhem in ruins. After the war, the city was rebuilt in a modern style, which is why Arnhem looks and feels different from other Dutch cities. But traces of the past are everywhere, from the John Frost Bridge named after the British commander who defended it in 1944, to the Duivelshuis, a historic building connected to the city’s administrative past. Richard Attenborough’s 1977 film “A Bridge Too Far” brought the story to a global audience, though it was actually filmed in Deventer, because post-war Arnhem had changed too much to represent its 1944 self.
Best things to do in Arnhem
- Arnhem Central Station. The main train station has a unique architecture which will capture your attention for sure.
- Walk around the city centre. Coming from the central station, make your way through the shopping streets and walk around the old city centre. Have a drink in the main square, Markt, with a view over the impressive Eusebius Church.
- The Eusebius Church (Eusebiuskerk) is Arnhem’s most iconic landmark, a Gothic church whose construction began in 1452. At 93 metres, it’s the tallest building in the city, and you can take a glass elevator to the top of the tower for panoramic views over Arnhem and the Veluwe. Inside, don’t miss the alabaster monument of Charles of Egmond, the last independent Duke of Gelderland, who died in 1538 (the intricate reliefs depicting the twelve apostles are remarkable).
- The Duivelshuis (“Devil’s House”). This is a 16th century city castle, which had many occupants through the centuries, including a few mayors. The name of the building comes from the satyr statues on the facade. In the WWII, during the Operation Market Garden, captured British paratroopers were held in the basement of this building. Most of the market square was destroyed during the war, including a part of the Duivelshuis. When the reconstruction of the town hall was done, this house was incorporated into the new building. The office of Arnhem mayor is now in the Duivelshuis and many marriage ceremonies are held there. This was my favourite building in Arnhem, and it was impressive to see the old and new combined to create a new city.
- The John Frost Bridge. While this bridge might not impress you with its architecture, it has a historic significance. This is the bridge that British paratroopers held for four days during Operation Market Garden, against overwhelming odds. It was renamed the John Frost Bridge (John Frostbrug) in 1977, in honour of Lieutenant-Colonel John Frost, who commanded the defence.
- Walk along the Nederrijn river. Explore the Rijnkade promenade, have a drink at one of the restaurants or take the ferry to cross over to the other side of the river.
Museums in Arnhem
- Netherlands Open-Air Museum (Nederlands Openluchtmuseum) — covers 44 hectares and is one of the best things to do in Arnhem, Netherlands. It’s an extraordinary place where you can walk through centuries of Dutch life: from farmhouses and windmills to a complete village street, workshops, and bakeries. Many buildings are originals, transported here from their original locations across the country. I didn’t have time to visit during my day trip, but it’s high on my list, especially as someone who loves open-air museums.
- Arnhem War Museum. Because WWII played an important role in the history of Arnhem, there are a few museums dedicated to the war in the city. One of them is the Oorlog Museum, which exhibits an important collection of war memorabilia, artefacts and vehicles.
- Airborne Museum Hartenstein is dedicated to the Battle of Arnhem and Operation Market Garden, the ambitious Allied operation of September 1944 that aimed to secure a swift crossing of the Rhine. The museum is housed in the former headquarters of the British 1st Airborne Division, so the story is told right where it unfolded, in the very rooms you walk through. Personal stories, photographs, objects, and testimonies bring together fragments of what happened on the ground, when a carefully planned military operation turned into days of confusion, resistance, and loss. One of the most striking parts is the underground Airborne Experience, which transports you to the past and shows you a glimpse of what it might have felt like to be there. The museum is not located in Arnhem but in the close by Oosterbeek.
Shopping in Arnhem: the fashion capital of the Netherlands
Arnhem is is often referred to as the fashion capital of the Netherlands, and for good reason. The city is home to ArtEZ, one of Europe’s leading fashion academies, which has turned Arnhem into a breeding ground for emerging Dutch designers.
The Modekwartier (Fashion District)
The heart of Arnhem’s fashion scene is the Modekwartier, located in the former working-class neighbourhood of Klarendal, within walking distance of the city centre. Here you’ll find around 60 independent shops and designer studios selling handmade clothing, jewellery, shoes, ceramics, and sustainable fashion. It’s the kind of place where you can meet the designer who made what you’re buying, a far cry from the chain stores that dominate most Dutch shopping streets.
7straatjes
For something more eclectic, head to the 7straatjes (“7 streets”), a cluster of charming streets with independent boutiques, vintage stores, and specialty shops. Between the Modekwartier and the 7straatjes, Arnhem offers one of the best independent shopping experiences in the Netherlands.
Parks and Nature in Arnhem
Sonsbeek Park is one of the most beautiful urban parks in the Netherlands. Covering around 67 hectares of rolling hills, woodland, and open meadows, it feels more like a country estate than a city park, which is exactly what it once was. The park includes two waterfalls (a rarity in the flat Netherlands!), ponds, and the Huys Zypendaal country estate, part of which houses a museum. Together with the adjacent Zypendaal Park and Gulden Bodem estates, the green area stretches even further.
Park Klarenbeek is one of Arnhem’s quieter green spaces, tucked just north of the city centre. It has a slightly hidden feel compared to the more famous Sonsbeek area, with wooded paths, gentle slopes, and open grassy clearings that make it feel more like a small forest than a formal city park. It’s a place where locals come to walk, run, or simply disappear for a while into nature without leaving the city behind.
Park Presikhaaf is situated between the Arnhem-Zutphen railway line and the Presikhaaf Shopping Centre. It’s a goos spot for a relaxed walk or a picnic, plus it has a skatepark.
Park Angerenstein is a historic estate park built around the former country house Huize Angerenstein. It has a more formal, structured atmosphere than many of Arnhem’s other parks, with tree-lined paths, small gardens, and remnants of its aristocratic past still visible in the landscape.
Hoge Veluwe National Park. Just outside Arnhem lies the Hoge Veluwe National Park, one of the largest nature reserves in the Netherlands. With its forests, heathlands, and sand dunes, plus the world-class Kröller-Müller Museum (housing an extraordinary Van Gogh collection), it’s worth a full day on its own. If you’re planning a weekend trip to Arnhem, combining the city with the Veluwe is the perfect itinerary.
How to Get to Arnhem from Amsterdam
Arnhem is easy to reach from Amsterdam. Direct intercity trains run from Amsterdam Centraal to Arnhem Centraal every 15 minutes, with a journey time of a bit over 1 hour. From Arnhem station, the city centre is a short walk away. Plan your journey on the NS website.
FAQ
Is Arnhem worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you’re interested in WWII history, fashion, or nature. Arnhem isn’t a typical “pretty Dutch city,” but that’s what makes it interesting. The WWII history is moving, the Modekwartier is unlike anything else in the Netherlands, and with Sonsbeek Park and the Hoge Veluwe on your doorstep, the nature is spectacular.
What is Arnhem known for?
Arnhem is known for three things: the Battle of Arnhem (Operation Market Garden, 1944), its status as the fashion capital of the Netherlands (thanks to the Modekwartier and ArtEZ fashion academy), and its proximity to the Hoge Veluwe National Park. The Netherlands Open-Air Museum is also one of the most popular museums in the country.
How much time you should spend in Arnhem?
If you want to see the best of Arnhem, I recommend a full day, to have enough time for everything. You could also easily do a weekend trip and combine it with the Veluwe Park and beautiful Zutphen or royal Apeldoorn.
Want to read more about the Netherlands?
The Dutch Love for Day Trips: Exploring the Culture of “Dagje Weg”
Things to Do in Utrecht: a Complete Guide to Discovering the City and Its Surroundings
A Perfect Day Trip to Nijmegen: Your Guide to the Oldest City in the Netherlands
This article is part of the project: Discover the Netherlands, Province by Province. Read the collection of articles here: Dutch Provinces: a Complete Guide.
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