In a densely populated country like the Netherlands, it sometimes takes an effort to find gems in nature. However, if you manage to navigate the packed cities and highways, another world is revealed. There are 20 national parks in this small country, and we have selected 6 of the best.
Get a map of the Netherlands, mark these pools, and get ready for an amazing journey through a wide range of ecosystems.
Nieuw Land National Park
Not so long ago, the present-day New Zealand National Park was actually located at the bottom of the Sudersey. The former bay was blocked, and the reclaimed land was now turned into a reserve for aquatic birds and wild horses.
The park has endless cycle paths that take you along long shores and through scenic forests. Bring your binoculars to Newland National Park and especially to Ostwards Place. From a viewing hut, you can spot humble birds such as avocados and plovers, as well as barriers and buzzards walking in the sky.
Schiermonnikoog National Park
Schiermonnikoog is an island in the Wadden Sea, an intercontinental region north of the Netherlands, listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is the only national park on our list with beaches, and this attractive protected reserve is highly recommended for those who love island life.
Go to Kobbudinen, south of Shiremonikug, where the birds thrive in wetlands. Westerplus is a unique place for bird watching. The lake has a disguised viewing platform for residents, including birds such as spoonbills and bluethroat.
De Biesbosch National Park
The Netherlands is not usually connected to the jungle, but passing through De Byzbosch National Park is the closest you can get to experiencing an unfamiliar desert.
You can find the smallest windy rivers in these tidal wetlands with a canoe and hope to explore many smaller islands on foot.
De Biesbosch is divided into several parts of the Suede-Holland and Nord-Brabant provinces and measures 90 square kilometers. This protected area is primarily known for its bird watching. Common dinners, kingfishers, spoonbills and eagles live in these swamps and can be found on land or water during your exploration.
De Weerribben-Wieden National Park
This overseas reserve has some unique features compared to other national parks in the Netherlands.
Verbena-Wyden National Park is home to extensive floating mats made of moss and plant layers. In places where the layers are thick enough, you can experience a 'blueberry' walk and spot unusual plants that grow only in this rare and humid place, such as orchids and colorful mosses.
The majority of the national park is waterlogged. By renting a kayak, you can explore the waterway network on your own or join a summer voyage on a so-called 'whisper boat'. From this quiet boat, you may meet inhabitants such as otters and waterfowl.
De Groote Peel National Park
De Groot Peel National Park has been praised for its scenic beauty, but the conservation area is only 13.4 square kilometers. Wetlands, small lakes, and boglands create the perfect conditions for reeds, mosses, and aquatic birds to inhabit here.
A special migratory visitor here is the Common Crane, which inhabits De Groot Peel National Park during the months of October and November. Macro-lovers will be delighted by the abundance of carnivorous plants, insects, butterflies and other plants that thrive in the peatlands. Deer, bats, and cubs are also known as this valuable nature home.
Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park
Thousands of years ago, massive ice sheets compressed the landmass to form a 'mountain spine' (Howelrug). This highland reserve in the middle of the country has unique ecosystems ranging from forests and swamps to desert-like sand dunes.
Through the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, you can follow a number of walking routes. Trump to the Watchtower in the Corps Boson offers magnificent views of the forest canopy.
You can soak up the various environments of the Utrecht Huwelrug along the 18-kilometer track across Elsterburg. You will walk through dense forests, meadows, and sandy areas with extensive views.
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