Apeldoorn celebrates railway history with storytelling and steam train festivals

Apeldoorn is hosting events celebrating railway and regional history. On August 22, the Vertelgenootschap Apeldoorn will present historical narratives at Gebouw Irene to commemorate 150 years of the railway and park. The storytelling sessions, which are free to the public, aim to recreate the atmosphere of 1876, a period of significant growth for the city driven by the arrival of the railway. The presentations will feature historical figures such as King Willem III and the first station master, Willem Brunet de Rochebrune.

In early September, the Stoomtreinweg Maatschappij (VSM) will host ‘Terug naar Toen’, a major steam train festival. Described as unique in Western Europe due to the high number of locomotives operating simultaneously, the event features restored steam engines and historical diesel locomotives. The festival will operate across two sites, the Museumstoomdepot in Beekbergen and Loenen station, offering shuttle services between Apeldoorn, Beekbergen, Loenen, and Dieren.