Netherlands

Description

Trekvogelpad - by Henk

Is hiking possible in the Netherlands? After all, the country is flat as a pancake!

The answer is: Yes. In fact there are over 80 long distance hiking trails crisscrossing the country. The most important are labeled LAW, abbreviation for Lange Afstand Wandelpad (Dutch for Long Distance Hiking Trail). Walking them is a most enjoyable way of exploring Dutch countryside. Meadows grazing cows, sheep and horses, forests, sand dunes and wetlands, and many often centuries old towns along the way. Apart from the LAW's (red-white markings) there are (often) circular regional trails, the SP's (red-yellow markings).

The LAW's and SP's are maintained by Stichting Wandelnet, often in cooperation with the NIVON / Friends of Nature. But there are more organisations marking paths: two sport hiking organisations, the KNBLO (red-blue markings) and the NWB (orange-blue markings). Often, topoguides are issued of these paths. Lastly we must mention the provincial nature conservancy organisations, who set out interesting itineraries for nature lovers.

Recomended LAW's:

  • Zuiderzeepad, 400 km, Hollands Golden Age on display.
  • Trekvogelpad, 380 km, From West to East, varied trail, gives a good impression of the Netherlands as a whole.
  • Maarten van Rossumpad, 308 km, also very varied.
  • Wad- en Wierdenpad, 123 km, dykes, polders and vast views in the quiet north east of the country.
  • Pieterpad, 492 km, maybe not the most attractive, but by far the most popular trail of the Netherlands.

Best hiking in the Netherlands is in the busy west. The Dutch Green Lung is the big empty space between the main cities The Hague, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht. This space, barely known by the Dutch themselves (they rush along in cars), consists of polders, ingenuous waterways, dykes, lakes, and very old villages and farmsteads. The polder landscape can be found in the northern provinces too, or along the river delta. Some patches are very beautiful and you will experience real solitude, others can be boring.

All trails are waymarked, but not always very well. Luckily, there are excellent Dutch guidebooks, with an English section and with maps that show you the correct way. Several LAW's coincide with the European Long Distance Trails E2, E8, E9 and E11.

Enjoying the Netherlands is enjoying the odd encounter with people, villages, buildings, architecture, things happening, and the neat houses and gardens showing off one's high morale. There is also some remoteness in the North and North East. Dutch trails have no difficulties, except the occasional crossing of a busy road or sharing the path with horse-carts and bikers. Keep in mind you're walking on paved roads most of the time, and alternatively grassy, often wet dykes. Therefore, light waterproof shoes are best. Along most routes you will find camping sites, B&B's, shops and public transport in almost every village.

Map

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Trails

Regions

States

Books

De Zwerver
Netherlands
2014
  • Reisgids - Reisverhaal Tussenland | Rachel de Meijer
  • 'Zeeuws-Vlaanderen is een onbeduidend plattelandsgebied met boerderijen en een paar chemische fabrieken.' Dat staat althans te lezen in de Lonely Planetgids van Nederland. NOS-redacteur Rachel de Meijer (Breda, 1964 maar opgegroeid in dit meest zuidelijke deel van de provincie Zeeland) wil in dit boek laten zien dat het gebied veel meer te... Read more
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2012
Bol.com
Netherlands
2012
  • Van boord op de turfroute
  • Nico Bleeker is in de zomermaanden sluis- en brugwachter op de Turfroute in zuidoost Friesland. In de pauzes tussen de middag wandelde of fietste hij in de omgeving van de verschillende wachtposten. Prachtige natuurgebieden ontdekte hij zo op loop- en fietsafstand van de Tjonger en de Opsterlandsche Compagnonsvaart. Zoals bij Wijnjeterp de... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
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Bol.com
Belgium
2012
  • Van boord op de turfroute
  • Nico Bleeker is in de zomermaanden sluis- en brugwachter op de Turfroute in zuidoost Friesland. In de pauzes tussen de middag wandelde of fietste hij in de omgeving van de verschillende wachtposten. Prachtige natuurgebieden ontdekte hij zo op loop- en fietsafstand van de Tjonger en de Opsterlandsche Compagnonsvaart. Zoals bij Wijnjeterp de... Read more
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De Zwerver
Netherlands
2010
  • Wandelgids In en Rondom Maastricht | Uitgeverij Tic
  • In en rondom Maastricht zijn veel afwisselende wandelingen te maken. Het historisch centrum wordt bewandeld met een kroegentocht en de shoppingtour, maar ook kerken en kloosters en de vesting Maastricht komen uitgebreid aan de orde in dit wandelboek. In de directe omgeving van Maastricht wordt wijn gemaakt, liggen prachtige hellingbossen, zijn... Read more
Bol.com
Netherlands
2017
  • Capitool reisgidsen - Onverwacht Verleden
  • Laat je inspireren door het verleden van Nederland en trek eropuitWord meegenomen naar de meest bijzondere, verrassende plekken van Nederland. Capitool Onverwacht Verleden staat vol met meer dan 400 bezienswaardige plekken in Nederland, die gebaseerd zijn op de Nederlandse geschiedenis én die heel leuk zijn om nu te bezoeken. Bekijk het oudste... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
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Bol.com
Belgium
2017
  • Capitool reisgidsen - Onverwacht Verleden
  • Laat je inspireren door het verleden van Nederland en trek eropuitWord meegenomen naar de meest bijzondere, verrassende plekken van Nederland. Capitool Onverwacht Verleden staat vol met meer dan 400 bezienswaardige plekken in Nederland, die gebaseerd zijn op de Nederlandse geschiedenis én die heel leuk zijn om nu te bezoeken. Bekijk het oudste... Read more
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Bol.com
Netherlands
  • 100X Aan De Wandel
  • Met een voorwoord van Arnon Grunberg Joyce Roodnat, journaliste van NRC Handelsblad, doet elke zaterdag verslag van haar wandeltochten. Ze wandelt met 'man' en soms met 'dochter' of 'vriendin', 'de legendarische Anita', langs bestaande wandelroutes kriskras door Nederland. Maar ook, tijdens vakanties, in de Ligurische Alpen in Itali , Avalon te... Read more
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Belgium
» Click to open
Bol.com
Belgium
  • 100X Aan De Wandel
  • Met een voorwoord van Arnon Grunberg Joyce Roodnat, journaliste van NRC Handelsblad, doet elke zaterdag verslag van haar wandeltochten. Ze wandelt met 'man' en soms met 'dochter' of 'vriendin', 'de legendarische Anita', langs bestaande wandelroutes kriskras door Nederland. Maar ook, tijdens vakanties, in de Ligurische Alpen in Itali , Avalon te... Read more
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De Zwerver
Netherlands
2018
The Book Depository
United Kingdom
  • Also available from:
  • Bol.com, Netherlands
  • Bol.com, Belgium
» Click to open
Bol.com
Netherlands
  • Walking the Woods and the Water
  • In 1933, the eighteen year old Patrick Leigh Fermor set out in a pair of hobnailed boots to chance and charm his way across Europe, like a tramp, a pilgrim or a wandering scholar. The books he later wrote about this walk, A Time of Gifts, Between the Woods and the Water, and the posthumous The Broken Road are a half-remembered, half-reimagined... Read more
Bol.com
Belgium
  • Walking the Woods and the Water
  • In 1933, the eighteen year old Patrick Leigh Fermor set out in a pair of hobnailed boots to chance and charm his way across Europe, like a tramp, a pilgrim or a wandering scholar. The books he later wrote about this walk, A Time of Gifts, Between the Woods and the Water, and the posthumous The Broken Road are a half-remembered, half-reimagined... Read more
» Click to close
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2017
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2011
  • Wandelgids Hannekemaaierspad: Bakkeveen - Lemmer | Hannekemaaierspad
  • Achtergrond traject Bakkeveen - Lemmer Het traject van het Hannekemaaierspad in dit boekje loopt van Bakkeveen naar Lemmer. De route gaat langs enkele, soms bijna verlaten gebieden, waar grootschalig veen gewonnen is. De tocht gaat over de oude zandruggen, waar Bakkeveen en Heerenveen op liggen. Het riviertje de Tjonger/Kuinder vormde in het... Read more
More books…

Maps

Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Meinweg - Leudal
  • Meinweg - Leudal area of the Netherlands in a series of walking and cycling maps at 1:25,000 – 1:35,000, published by Falk BV in cooperation with Staatsbosbeheer – Dutch government’s organization for forestry and the management of nature reserves.Colouring indicates different types of vegetation or terrain: woodland, pastures, heath or sand... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Dunes of the Central Holland 22
  • The Dunes of the Central Holland Province of the Netherlands in a series of walking and cycling maps at 1:25,000 – 1:35,000, published by Falk BV in cooperation with Staatsbosbeheer – Dutch government’s organization for forestry and the management of nature reserves.Colouring indicates different types of vegetation or terrain: woodland,... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Drentsche A
  • Drentsche A area of the Netherlands in a series of walking and cycling maps at 1:25,000 – 1:35,000, published by Falk BV in cooperation with Staatsbosbeheer – Dutch government’s organization for forestry and the management of nature reserves.Colouring indicates different types of vegetation or terrain: woodland, pastures, heath or sand dunes.... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Oostvaardersplassen
  • Oostvaardersplassen area of the Netherlands in a series of walking and cycling maps at 1:25,000 – 1:35,000, published by Falk BV in cooperation with Staatsbosbeheer – Dutch government’s organization for forestry and the management of nature reserves.Colouring indicates different types of vegetation or terrain: woodland, pastures, heath or sand... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Gooi & Vechtstreek: Hilversum - Amersfoort - Utrecht
  • Gooi and Vechtstreek - a popular hiking area south-east of Amsterdam - on a light, double-sided, waterproof and tear-resistant, GPS-compatible maps at 1:25,000 from ANWB, the country’s main motoring and touring organization. Coverage on the northern side extends southwards from the historic town of Naarden, and west/east between the... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Baronie van Breda
  • Baronie van Breda area of the Netherlands in a series of walking and cycling maps at 1:25,000 – 1:35,000, published by Falk BV in cooperation with Staatsbosbeheer – Dutch government’s organization for forestry and the management of nature reserves.Colouring indicates different types of vegetation or terrain: woodland, pastures, heath or sand... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • De Weerribben
  • De Weerribben area of the Netherlands in a series of walking and cycling maps at 1:25,000 – 1:35,000, published by Falk BV in cooperation with Staatsbosbeheer – Dutch government’s organization for forestry and the management of nature reserves.Colouring indicates different types of vegetation or terrain: woodland, pastures, heath or sand dunes.... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Netherlands Falkplan Cycling Atlas
  • Cycling atlas of the Netherlands at 1:75,000 from Falk BV, presenting in one A5 spiral-bound volume the country’s extensive network of signposted cycling routes and junctions, including the long-distance LF trails and smaller local cycle paths. The network consists of numbered junctions joined by sign-posted connecting routes in either... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Dwingelderveld - Ruinen
  • Dwingelderveld - Ruinen area of the Netherlands in a series of walking and cycling maps at 1:25,000 – 1:35,000, published by Falk BV in cooperation with Staatsbosbeheer – Dutch government’s organization for forestry and the management of nature reserves.Colouring indicates different types of vegetation or terrain: woodland, pastures, heath or... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Rijk van Nijmegen
  • Rijk van Nijmegen area of the Netherlands in a series of walking and cycling maps at 1:25,000 – 1:35,000, published by Falk BV in cooperation with Staatsbosbeheer – Dutch government’s organization for forestry and the management of nature reserves.Colouring indicates different types of vegetation or terrain: woodland, pastures, heath or sand... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
2010
  • Gelderse Valley
  • Gelderse Valley on a waterproof, tear-resistant, GPS compatible walking map at 1:25,000 from Trage Paden, in a series of maps with extensive overprint for long-distance and local walking routes. GPS waypoints and route profiles are available for download from the publisher’s website.Contours used in this map series vary between 2,5 to 5m... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Brabant West and Central Cycling Map
  • The central and western part of the North Brabant Province of the Netherlands at 1:50,000 in a series from Falk B.V. showing the network of signposted cycling routes on large, double-sided indexed maps with prominent highlighting of long-distance LF routes, symbols indicating accommodation and other tourist services, plus in each title two or... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Schouwen Duiveland
  • Schouwen Duiveland area of the Netherlands in a series of walking and cycling maps at 1:25,000 – 1:35,000, published by Falk BV in cooperation with Staatsbosbeheer – Dutch government’s organization for forestry and the management of nature reserves.Colouring indicates different types of vegetation or terrain: woodland, pastures, heath or sand... Read more
Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Het Groene Woud
  • “Het Groene Woud” map in 1:25,000 belong to a series of eleven walking from Falk, which cover the most beautiful hiking areas in four regions: North Brabant in the south, the tip of North Holland, Friesland and Groningen in the north of the country.“Het Groene Woud” (the green forest) map covers an area of approximately 26 x 16 km in North... Read more
More maps…

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