Best nature trips trails in North Holland, Netherlands

This tip of the Zuid-Kennemerland National Park is surprisingly close to the city of Haarlem. The walk passes through several estates with impressive water features, winding avenues and stately beech trees. Landgoed Elswout is one of the most water-rich and beautiful estates in this part. The trees here are old, many animals live here and in spring the estate is a sea of flowers. More than 300 different mushrooms grow in the old forest. Your walk ends in the Zanderij, where you might be lucky enough to see a kingfisher.Show more

Large moorland that is characterized by the centuries old road that this route also follows, the Nieuwe Crailoseweg. In this area you'll also come across a few 4000 year old burial mounds. The area is grazed by animals to maintain the natural balance.Show more

The Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen is a beautiful dune area near Zandvoort. The area is used for the extraction of drinking water for Amsterdam, where it gets its name. Only walking is allowed in the area to maintain the peace of nature. With a million visitors a year, the Waterleidingduinen are one of the most visited sights in the Netherlands. The area is designed to let the animals live as naturally as possible, therefore cyclists and dogs are not allowed in the dunes.Show more

A walk along open fields, forests and along a lake (with the possibility of swimming on a small beach). Great for children! It takes you to a beautiful lookout where you can use free binoculars to see the sea. After the lake, the hike takes you to the Brederodeberg, formerly owned by the Brederode family. The Brederode Castle ruin is nearby and this walk can easily be combined with a visit. The path is paved in most places, but extremely sandy in others, with an occasional slight climb.Show more

The loop around the IJ is an exploration along the quays, bridges, locks, barges, yachts, houseboats, sheds, warehouses, terraced scaffolding, dyke houses, decaying businesses and brand new architecture. And always with the sloshing and rippling water of the IJ in the background! First you take the ferry (Buiksloterveer) for free to the other side of the river. The new EYE (movie museum) beckons for a visit, or climb the observatory tower A'dam Lookout for views over the entire city. Next through the Vogelbuurt to enjoy the silent-mysterious Vliegenbos. You walk along the beautiful Nieuwendammerdijk, with its old lock, a perfect place for lunch, and on to the old abandoned village Schellingwoude. Cross the Orange Locks and visit the wonderful Zeeburgereiland. Here you’ll have the most magnificent views on the harbor. Then into the domain of the Eastern Docklands, where the harbors are overgrown by new residential areas for families with children in buggies. The variation in architectural styles is highly worth seeing: an example of modern city planning that Vliegen and his mates would be proud of. Is the bridge therefore named after his descendant, Jan Schaefer? At the end of the bridge on the right is the landing place for huge cruise ships. Finally, the special Muziektheater with Bimhuis and a breathtaking terrace with a view on the IJ.Show more

There is no other hike that resembles the De Muy nature reserve and the De Slufter nature reserve. Here you will find steep dunes, meadows and salt marsh landscapes where you can walk for hours. The plants that grow here are salt resistant so be prepared to see lilac and purple colors in the summer. Enjoy cycling, walking, the beach and nature on your next visit to the nature reserves.Show more

In between of busy Amsterdam and Hilversum you'll find the green oasis called the Naardermeer. It's a place of nature and tranquility. The area consists of a lake with clear water, swampy forests and meadows. At the Naardermeer you can see several rare animals, such as otters or the purple heron. A viewpoint and observation hut are located along the route.Show more

This route through the Kennemerduinen can be started at the Koevlak parking lot or at Parnassia. The dune area is an official water extraction area. Scottish Highlanders graze loosely so that nature gets the most balanced balance possible. The walk also passes two lakes, you can swim in the lake 't Wed.Show more

Just south of Hilversum lies the Hilversums Wasmeer. The Hilversums Wasmeer contains both a lake and a forest. There is a viewpoint at the lake. The route is marked with posts with a yellow arrow.Show more

The 'Molenroute' or the Windmill Trail is a hike everyone in search of old Dutch wooden houses and windmills should definitely make. This trail offers you views on the typical Dutch watery landscape filled with old houses and windmills. Not only the Zaanse Schans, but the whole of the Netherlands has become world famous thanks to their windmills and soggy peat polders. It was because of the windmill the Zaanstreek was able to develop into a flourishing industrial area during the Golden Age. After the steam engine was invented the mills disappeared from everyday life, leaving only 13 of the 1000 industrial mills that once stood in the area.Show more