Outdoor living

Spring is slowly giving way to summer in Apeldoorn, and you can see it everywhere. The town and villages are visibly coming to life now that we’re spending more and more time outdoors. Gardens are being spruced up, balconies are turning into mini-terraces and, in the back gardens, alongside the buzz of bees, you can hear the familiar sound of lawnmowers and secateurs, whilst the smell of barbecues hangs in the air. Of course, enjoying a drink on one of the terraces in the town or our villages is all part of it.

Over the coming weeks, Apeldoorn will become one big open-air living room. A green living room where we’ll see each other a bit more often, say hello and sometimes just linger for a chat. Because let’s be honest: here, you don’t just live next to the Veluwe – you’re part of it.

Out with the tiles, in with the plants. That spring fever is unstoppable. And anyone driving past the recycling centre will see it straight away: trailers full of garden waste, old fences and the first steps towards a fresh-looking garden. It’s lovely to see. Please keep it up and do it properly. Green waste belongs in the green bin, not on the verge.

And then there’s something else that’s typical of this season and which we all need to remain vigilant about: wildfires. The Veluwe is beautiful, but also vulnerable. We’ve seen that over the past month. Just a single spark can cause a great deal of damage. So: enjoy the outdoors, but keep a close eye on things.

In short: get out and about, live life to the full, prune, plant, have a laugh with the neighbours and enjoy everything that makes Apeldoorn so special in spring. Outdoor living at its best.