The oldest known reference to Apeldoorn, then called Appoldro, dates from the 8th century. The settlement came into being at the point where the old road from Amersfoort to Zwolle. A 1740 map refers to it as Appeldoorn[1].
Close by is the favourite country-seat of the royal family of the Netherlands called the palace het Nieuwe Loo (now Het Loo). It was originally a hunting-lodge of the dukes of Gelderland, but in its present form dates chiefly from the time of the then StadtholderWilliam III of England (1685-1686)[2].
Apeldoorn was a relatively insignificant town until the major building projects of the 19th century and those of the period following World War II[3]. The Protestant church was restored after a fire in 1890. Apeldoorn possesses large paper-mills. Apenheul is a zoo which hosts a number of different types of monkeys, some of which are free to walk around the visitors.
Miscellaneous information
The southwestern corner of the municipality is part of the Hoge Veluwe, a National Park. It is the final Battle Honour of The Royal Canadian Regiment in World War II.
The City of Burlington, Canada is a partner city of Apeldoorn.
