The Veluwe is one of the largest nature reserves and heath landscapes in the Netherlands, and the Heerde municipality sits at its western edge where the forest meets the IJssel river valley. The contrast between the dense woods and heathlands of the Veluwe proper and the flat, open IJssel polder is a distinctive feature of the area.
Several marked walking and cycling routes cross the municipality, connecting heathland areas to the river. The Netherlands is exceptionally well served by cycling infrastructure, and route signs make navigation straightforward without a map. The closest major Veluwe visitor centres are further east, near Apeldoorn and Arnhem, but the Heerde section of the landscape is considerably quieter.