Otterlo, Rural village in Gelderland, Netherlands
Otterlo is a village in the eastern Netherlands that spreads across a large area of farmland and rural countryside. It sits at the edge of the Hoge Veluwe National Park and serves as a base for visitors exploring this nature reserve and its woodland trails.
The settlement functioned as an independent municipality until 1818, when administrative reforms merged it with the larger municipality of Ede. This change reshaped local governance and set the course for how the region developed over the following centuries.
The Kröller-Müller Museum nearby houses one of the world's largest Van Gogh collections and reflects the region's deep connection to art. Visitors experience how this collection shaped local identity and made the area a destination for those interested in Dutch painting.
The village offers lodging and basic services for visitors exploring the national park and its surroundings. Plan to use it as a convenient stopping point when visiting the nature reserve and the museum complex nearby.
During World War II, local families sheltered Jewish neighbors from German occupation forces despite enormous personal danger. These acts of courage and compassion remain part of the community's identity and serve as reminders of resistance during that period.
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