The outdoor exhibit is a contender for the best gorilla enclosure in the world, but it's surprising that Apenheul hasn't build a big, modern indoor gorilla complex and then stayed open year-round instead of closing down every winter.
Yes, it is rather sad indeed. Apenheul is located on the border of the city of Apeldoorn, and the large national park "de hoge veluwe". Because of forest preservation regulations, there are serious limits as to what they are allowed to build
@Mr Gharial The Hoge Veluwe has nothing to do with this and they aren't even close neighbours, being located over 10 km away. The only reason is building regulations at the municipal level (bestemmingsplan) which stipulate how much built up area there can be in the Apenheul, as a part of the park Berg & Bos.