The most beautiful Dutch dunes

Everyone who lives in the western part of the country agrees: the Dutch dunes are beautiful! But did you know that you don’t necessarily have to live by the coast to walk in the dunes? In fact, there are many other places in the Netherlands where you can enjoy the dunes without being by the sea. But the dunes by the sea are, of course, what you come across here, because they definitely belong in this list!

National Park Dutch Dunes

The National Park Hollandse Duinen runs all the way from Hoek van Holland to Hillegom and consists of sea, beach and dunes. But also beach ridges, beach plains, bulb fields, peat meadows and villages! So there is plenty to see and experience along this route. And who knows, you might even come across foxes, deer or even seals on your trip. The area is about 450 km², 47 km long and at some points even 8.5 km wide! For example, walk the dunes between Kijkduin and Scheveningen and back again. This is a considerable walk, but certainly doable, even for less practiced hikers.

Meijendel

Part of the Nationaal Park Hollandse Duinen is the dune area of Meijendel. This area stretches from Scheveningen to The Hague and Wassenaar. It consists not only of dunes but also of water features, forests and kilometers of sandy beaches. What makes Meijendel even more special is the Waalsdorpervlakte. More than 250 people were executed here during World War II, making it one of the most important memorial sites in our country. The Waalsdorpervlakte can be reached via Oude Waalsdorperweg.

National Park The Maasduinen

In northern Limburg you will find National Park De Maasduinen. This area of dunes was created by an interplay of wind, water and man and runs along the longest river dune belt in the Netherlands. The area was already inhabited in prehistoric times and this is reflected in the various grave fields and burial mounds in the region. The Vorstengraf is the largest burial mound in the Netherlands and is unique because it is still completely intact. This is special because it did suffer some damage during World War II. Both the white and blue hiking trails pass this special grave. The starting point is Jachthut Op den Hamer. Chances are you will encounter smooth snakes, sand lizards or even beavers during your hike!

National Park Loonse and Drunense Dunes

You’ll find the Loonse and Drunense Dunes in North Brabant. These dunes consist mainly of sand drifts but you can also wander over heath and forests. You don’t have to stay on the beaten path, you can walk wherever you want. Of course there are hiking trails to walk and you can also enjoy cycling and mountain biking. The area is also called the Brabant Sahara. In summer, the temperature between day and night can vary by as much as 40 degrees! The largest predator in the Netherlands, the badger, is found in this area. Unfortunately, these animals are very shy and you will not encounter them easily. But that you can have a wonderful time in these dunes is for sure!

The Kennemer Dunes

North Holland is also home to dunes where you can enjoy hiking and (sports) biking. The Kennemerduinen are part of the National Park Zuid-Kennemerland. It is a wild landscape with an old, high dune hem. The highest point is the Brederodeberg (45 meters high) near Santpoort. This is near the beautiful Duin and Kruidberg estate. There are several dune lakes in the area, such as ‘t Wed and the Oosterplas. These are also great for swimming on a hot day. Note: dogs are not allowed there, because of all the animals.

Credits photos: Canva.com