Located between the river plains of the Rhine and the higher wooded areas of the Veluwe, Zuid-Veluwe is a region where nature, history, and modern sustainability come together. Unlike most of the flat Netherlands, it has rolling hills, old forested ridges, and valleys fed by natural springs. These varied landscapes shape not only the area’s appearance but also its long history, which is closely linked to farming, traditions, and the connection between people and the land.

What makes Zuid-Veluwe unique compared to other regions in the Netherlands is the way these natural features are combined with visible traces of the past. Ancient Celtic Fields, burial mounds, and old trade routes are still part of the landscape. Springs feed small streams that have been important for farming for centuries. Here, nature reserves, historical sites, and local food initiatives exist side by side, creating a region where visitors can experience both the deep history and the living culture of the land.

Historical elements such as wildwallen, grafheuvels, and Celtic fields often appear in close proximity to current farms or community initiatives. For instance, a farmer from GraanGeluk, a member of the Streekwaar cooperative, described growing heritage grains such as emmer, spelt, and rogge (rye) in fields located near old wildwallen and burial mounds. He reflected on how the land's elevation and orientation—similar to those of Celtic field structures—still influence how and where he plants crops today. This example illustrates how contemporary agroecological practice is often layered on top of ancient spatial knowledge, reinforcing long-term continuity in land use.

Natural springs, streams, and soil conditions were not only described in environmental terms, but also held social and cultural significance. For example, the Renkumse Beek, an area with a high density of water springs, was remembered by participants as a place of life cycles, where seasonal changes were most visible and where farmers traditionally began planting in spring. Locals mentioned that “you could smell the land waking up” near these springs, highlighting how water is both a resource and a symbol of ecological rhythm and community awareness.

Ancient roads such as Hessenwegen and hollewegen were remembered not only as physical infrastructure but as routes of interaction and exchange. Participants recalled how these roads historically linked agricultural fields to local markets, or even to other regions via livestock drives and forest trade. Some hollewegen, especially those near Doorwerth and Wageningen, are still walked or biked today—often unknowingly retracing centuries-old paths. These stories reflect how movement across the landscape has shaped, and continues to shape, social networks and regional cohesion.

Members of the Streekwaar cooperative frequently emphasized that their approach to farming was not purely innovative but deeply informed by traditional wisdom. They referenced agroecological principles such as biodiversity, circularity, and animal welfare as “just how people used to farm here.” One farmer explained that using local seed varieties was a way of maintaining “biological memory.” These stories suggest that sustainability in Zuid Veluwe is not just about ecological function, but about cultural continuity—where knowledge, values, and methods are passed across generations and adapted over time

The emotional dimension of landscape was consistently present in conversations. Several participants expressed strong attachments to specific places: a field where a grandparent once farmed, a stream where local children learned to fish, or a forest path walked daily for decades. One resident from Wolfheze described passing grafheuvels as feeling like “being accompanied by the past.” Another from Lunteren said, “the trees remember us,” emphasizing the spiritual resonance of the land. These emotional ties enrich the spatial narratives, showing how personal memory and collective heritage are entangled in the experience of place.

The Wildwalls, which stretch from Meulunteren to Wageningen, were once both physical and symbolic boundaries. Originally built in the 14th or 15th century to protect farmland from wildlife such as wild boar (populations were very high at the time) and to mark property boundaries, the Wildwalls included defensive embankments with ditches on their wild sides. These structures could reach 2 meters high and 4 meters wide. According to local narratives, the Wildwalls not only protected livestock but also shaped land use for centuries. Their remains are still visible in Hoekelum, Landgoed Zonneoord, and near Boslaan. For many participants, the Wildwalls reflected a long-term effort to negotiate the boundary between human settlement and the wild landscape—a line still visible in satellite imagery today.

In the Netherlands, landscape features like embankments and defensive ridges often marked territorial boundaries and provided protection in a time before formalized maps. These earthen structures evolved over centuries, shaped by both human activity and natural erosion, forming relics of medieval land management still evident in today’s uneven terrain.

Spatial extent & condition.
The mapped Wildwal runs linearly from Meulunteren to Wageningen, acting as a transition between residential areas to the west and forested hills to the east. Its total length is ~18.5 km. Of this, about 8.3 km remain clearly visible today, while roughly 10.2 km are fragmented or lost to later development and erosion. The most legible segments are in and around Hoekelum, Landgoed Zonneoord, and along the Boslaan corridor.

Cultural significance.
As a medieval boundary earthwork, the Wildwal combines defense, property demarcation, and landscape engineering. Its presence influenced where roads ran, where livestock grazed, and how fields were arranged. Today, it offers a readable line in the terrain—an outdoor archive that ties present-day trails and farming edges to decisions made six centuries ago.

Celtic fields (raatakkers) are an ancient agricultural system used from around 1500 BC to the Roman period. These small, rectangular fields formed a grid pattern, where primitive grains were cultivated. As the soil became depleted, the fields were rotated, and remnants of earthen ridges mark these ancient patterns. Participants in Wekerom and Leersum demonstrated how these raised edges are still visible, particularly in forests and uplands. In some cases, these areas also include temporary dwellings built on degraded land—an early form of circular land use. The locations of these Celtic Fields are mostly on hills (high elevations). These stories connect prehistoric agriculture with contemporary sustainable practices, demonstrating the continuity of ecological adaptation and resilience.

Primarily primitive grains were also grown here. As soon as the arable soil became exhausted, it was cleared and new, fertile sods were laid. This created earthen walls that marked the grid pattern of the fields. These walls can still be seen in some places and are recognizable by the discoloration of the soil.

These field systems are among the most enduring prehistoric farming practices in the Netherlands. Studies show earth banks of Celtic fields in the Dutch Veluwe were constructed from the 13th to 10th centuries BC and persisted into the Roman era. They reflect sustainable strategies in soil use, including rotations and communal farming plots—a pattern still perceptible in the region's open, sandy landscapes.

Distribution & size.
In Zuid-Veluwe we mapped 17 clusters of Celtic Fields, typically on elevated, often forested terrain. The largest complex is at Wekerom with an estimated footprint of about 700 ha, while one of the smallest surviving sets lies near Leersum. Clear traces are also visible along Panoramaweg, where raised earthen walls still outline the ancient grid.

Meaning for today.
These Bronze-to-Roman-era systems demonstrate long cycles of cultivation, resting, and re-use—principles echoed by modern regenerative agriculture. Their surviving banks act as both biodiversity edges and cultural markers, connecting prehistoric practice to contemporary stewardship.

Grafheuvel (burial mounds), dating back to 3000 BC, serve as silent witnesses to the spiritual history of the region. Built to honor the deceased, particularly local leaders, these mounds often contained burial goods such as pottery, jewelry, and weapons—suggesting a belief in the afterlife. Participants shared that some burial sites, such as those near Rhenen or along Renkumse Beek, were places of pride and mystery for the community. In Doorwerth, two mounds were discovered within a modern neighborhood—raising questions about forgotten rituals beneath familiar streets. The presence of grafheuvel near the Celtic Fields also suggests a symbolic connection between life, land, and heritage.

Burial mounds across the Veluwe echo a deep-rooted prehistoric reverence for ancestral landscapes. These earthen tombs became enduring landmarks—anchoring spiritual memory in everyday terrains. Many remain intact today, preserved within forests or parklands, silently connecting modern life to ancient rituals and community identity.

Numbers & clusters.
Our inventory counts roughly ~247 burial mounds across Zuid-Veluwe. The densest clusters occur along the Renkumse Beek corridor with about 29 mounds over ~9 km, and another notable cluster west of Rhenen with approximately 16 mounds. Many sit near Celtic Field complexes and on local high points, reinforcing ties between settlement, cultivation, and ritual.

Reading the landscape.
Grafheuvels often anchor trail networks and viewpoints. Their survival inside forests and, in some cases, within modern neighborhoods demonstrates how spiritual geography persists even as land uses change—quiet reminders that cultural memory is literally built into the soil.

Streekwaar network members describe their farming not just as a source of food, but also as an ethical and ecological system rooted in regional identity. With around 40 producers in Wageningen, Ede, and Renkum, the association includes farmers, food processors, and caterers who prioritize biodiversity, animal welfare, low emissions, and transparent pricing. Interviews revealed that many of these producers see themselves as continuing a historical relationship with the land—often farming near or within areas marked by ancient features such as the Celtic Fields or near historic water sources. For example, in De Hooilanden or GraanGeluk, modern agroecology is described as “going back to what our grandparents did, but with a new awareness.”

This emphasis on local, sustainable food systems resonates with broader shifts across Europe, where communities reconnect with land through regenerative methods. Streekwaar’s practices echo prehistoric cultivation rhythms—seasonal planting, soil stewardship, and regional identity woven into responsible production.

Who’s on the map.
The regional cooperative includes producers such as De Hooilanden, Remeker, GraanGeluk, Veld en Beek, and Korenschof. Together they promote agroecology, landscape biodiversity, and fair chains, connecting markets to fields that often lie beside Celtic Fields, historic springs, or relict stream corridors.

Landscape impact.
By sourcing locally and managing soils carefully, Streekwaar members help preserve hedgerows, meadow flora, and small water systems. In Zuid-Veluwe, food heritage is not just a product—it's a living practice that keeps cultural landscapes visible and resilient.

Old roads also evoke vivid memories and awareness. Hollewegen—sunken paths formed by centuries of erosion, foot traffic, and water runoff—are found in Wageningen and near Doorwerth Castle. Although barely visible today, these paths once served as important transit routes between farms, forests, and markets. Similarly, participants discussed the Hessenweg, a centuries-old trade route used by merchants and seasonal workers, now covered by forest or converted into a bicycle path. These features reminded participants of a more connected past, where mobility was shaped by the land itself. Discovering these paths was a moment of revelation for many: “You walk here every day, and you never know this was once a major route,” one remarked.

Known as holloways in English, these embedded tracks are landscapes of memory and erosion. Over millennia, they became deeply grooved into the terrain by repeated use. European holloways, including those in the Netherlands, are testimony to how movement shapes land—not just physically, but socially—reflecting centuries of trade and rural life.

Measured traces.
The main ancient road we mapped runs for roughly ~5 km, with prominent Hollewegen segments of about ~500 m in Wageningen and ~830 m near Doorwerth Castle. Additional segments occur on Ginkelse Heide and Wolfhezerheide, where the sandy soils and slopes favored deep incision by carts and herds.

Why it matters.
These routes predate modern streets yet still influence present mobility—many footpaths and cycleways quietly follow their lines. They link farms, markets, and forests, showing how trade, military movement, and daily life etched themselves into the terrain.

Water sources, particularly those concentrated in the eastern part of the Zuid Veluwe, are described not only as functional but also as carriers of ancient memory. This area is also one of the centers of springs in the Netherlands. Several participants noted that these places were once where their grandparents drew water or where livestock used to graze. Springs near Renkumse Beekdal or Wodanseiken are still considered sacred or healing by some. In areas like Sonsbeek or Wolfheze, these springs are closely intertwined with folklore and ancient agricultural rhythms—for example, how certain soils near springs warm up more quickly in spring and are suitable for earlier planting. These insights reveal that land is not only seen but also remembered through touch, habits, and stories.

These springs are keystone elements in the landscape—anchors of place-based memory and folklore. Hydrological features like these have shaped human settlement, seasonal grazing, and dry paths for centuries. In folklore, springs are often associated with healing and fertility, cementing their enduring cultural significance beyond mere water supply.

How many & where.
We documented ~66 natural springs in the region, concentrated in the east where streams originate. Notable clusters include ~20 springs in northern Renkumse Beekdal, ~17 around Wolfhezerheide/Wodanseiken, ~8 in Oosterbeek, and ~7 in Sonsbeek. These clusters sit at the foot of the Veluwe’s higher sandy ridges, where groundwater emerges along slope breaks.

Streams and relict channels.
Zuid-Veluwe hosts three major streams and eight minor ones. Based on our mapping, roughly ~62% of traced channels are active streams today, while the remainder are relict streams—paleochannels now visible through elevation models and wet-soil indicators. Relict channels reveal how historic water networks once braided through forests and fields, guiding mill sites, meadow irrigation, and safe crossing points.

Culture & ecology.
Springs and streams shaped settlement patterns, farm layouts, and even sacred geographies. They supplied clean water, powered mills, fed hay meadows, and offered seasonal refuges for livestock. Today, restoration projects in areas like Renkumse Beekdal reconnect spring lines to surface flow, recovering biodiversity while keeping the region’s water memory alive.

Route 1: Memory Landscapes of Rhenen and Grebbeberg

Route 2: Taste of the Land – Local Food Route

Route 3: Between Earth and Iron – Wekerom's Ancient Grounds

Route 4: From Soil to Soul – Ederheide and Celtic Farms

Route 5: Forest Memories – Water and Earth in Hoekelum

Route 6: Wild Tastes – Along the Wildwal by Farm

Route 7: From Windmill to Wildflower – Pluk and Brew Trail

Route 8: Springs and Silence – The Garden and Beekdal

Route 9: Relict Streams and Sacred Ground

Route 10: Layers of Time – Castle to Holleweg

Route 11: Fields of Memory – From Church to Food Forest

Route 12: Arnhem’s Living Waters