Ede and the Hoge Veluwe are worth visiting year-round, but late August to mid-September is the outstanding time to come. That is when the heather on the Veluwe blooms — the moorland turns a deep purple-pink and the light in the early morning and late afternoon is remarkable. The park draws big crowds at weekends during the bloom, but weekday visits are manageable.
The September commemorations around the Airborne Monument on the Ginkelseheide fall in the same window — usually the third weekend of the month — and combine well with a heather walk. The anniversary drop draws thousands and the atmosphere is genuinely moving.
Spring (April–May) is excellent for cycling and walking; the forest is fresh and the park is not yet crowded. Autumn (October–November) brings colour to the beeches and oaks and is the best season for spotting red deer, which rut in October and are often visible at dusk on the heathland edges. Winter is cold and grey, but the park stays open and the Kröller-Müller Museum is a reason to visit in any weather.
Avoid the Kröller-Müller on summer Sunday afternoons — it fills up quickly and the car parks overflow.