Laren is a village in the municipality of Lochem in the east of the Dutch province of Gelderland. It was until 1 August 1971 an independent municipality, which also belonged to the village of Barchem. As of 1294/95, Laren is called in documents. Around 1650, it became a chapel, replaced in 1835 by a neoclassical-style watercourse church, the Church of Laren.

On January 1, 1812, the former high glory was added to Verwalt with Laren. On January 1, 1818 Verwolde was divorced as an independent municipality from Laren. On May 22, 1854, the municipality of Verwolde was removed and added to Laren.

Laren is famous for its many estates and associated castles and country houses. Around the village are Oolde, Verwolde and Ampsen. Huis Verwolde is decorated as a museum. The estate around this house also houses the thickest oak of the Netherlands, with a circumference of more than 7.5 meters. This tree carries the appropriate name "Thick Tree".

From 1865, Laren had its own station on the Zutphen - Hengelo railway line. Since 1938, no trains have stopped. The existing station building is a municipal monument. It is presumably designed by architect K.H. Van Brederode. It was built in 1863-1865. At the opening it was called Harkelbrug, which later became Laren-Almen station. In 1925 the name was changed to Laren station.

The rich folklore of the village was described by H.W. at the beginning of the twentieth century. Heuvel in his "Oud-Achterhoeks Boerenleven, all year round", a book that became a classic in folk culture. In addition, the famous actor Albert Mol lived in Laren in 2004 until his death.

The Pieterpad runs through Laren.