Hollands Duin is a sweeping nature reserve of around 1,750 hectares in the middle of the Randstad.
From Wassenaar to Noordwijk: the area runs along the coast from Wassenaar to just north of Noordwijk.
Plenty of variety: protected woodland, open plains, a genuine Dutch desert and wet dune valleys alternate, with seepage water rising to the surface and forming small dune pools.
Popular with walkers: it is precisely this variety and its remarkable location that make Hollands Duin so appealing to walk.
The largest in South Holland: the area is managed by Staatsbosbeheer and, together with the adjoining Meijendel, forms the largest continuous dune area in South Holland.
Five areas
At around 1,750 hectares, Hollands Duin is decidedly large, and it falls into five sub-areas, each with a character of its own.
Lentevreugd: former bulb land near Wassenaar, reshaped into open wet grassland with ditches and pools.
Ganzenhoek: a patchwork of small dune landscapes in the north-east of Meijendel.
Berkheide: the largest and most varied dune area, with big dune valleys and traces of the war.
Boswachterij Noordwijk: a broad walking area with drifting dune, wet valleys and woodland.
Ganzenhoek
The Ganzenhoek nature area lies between Wassenaar and Katwijk and forms part of the extensive Hollands Duin. This peaceful dune area covers around 95 hectares and consists of high dunes, open dune grasslands, damp dune valleys, woodland and scrub. What can you expect in the Ganzenhoek? - Peaceful dune area: The Ganzenhoek is less well known than, for example, Meijendel, ...
The Berkheide nature area lies between Katwijk and the Wassenaarse Slag and forms part of the extensive Hollands Duin. This open dune area is a wonderful place for anyone who wants to walk through sand dunes, dune grasslands, scrub and peaceful dune valleys. What can you expect in Berkheide? - Open dune landscape:Berkheide is known for its wide dunes, gently rolling ...
Lentevreugd is a peaceful and special nature area of around 96 hectares on the edge of Wassenaar. The area is part of Hollands Duin and lies between the dunes of Meijendel and the bulb fields. What can you expect in Lentevreugd? - From farmland to nature: Where there were once meadows and fields, you will now find flower-rich grasslands, pools, reed beds and scrub. This ...
The Coepelduynen nature area is a quiet and relatively unspoilt dune landscape between Noordwijk and Katwijk. The area is part of Hollands Duin and covers around 188 hectares. You will find high dunes, open grasslands, damp dune valleys and dense scrub. What can you expect in the Coepelduynen? - Peaceful nature: Thanks to the limited number of walking paths and the ...
The Boswachterij Noordwijk lies on the northern side of Noordwijk and forms part of the extensive Hollands Duin. Covering around 650 hectares, it is one of the largest continuous nature areas in the region. Here you will find a varied landscape of woodland, open dunes, wet dune valleys, heathland, drifting sand and quiet walking paths. What can you expect in the ...
A few things are handy to know before you set off.
Open all year:Hollands Duin is accessible during the day on the roads and paths. Signs at the entrances give the current access rules for each sub-area.
Accessibility: almost all paths are suitable for wheelchair users, with the paved path in Lentevreugd to the viewing point as the highlight.
Dogs: in the Boswachterij Noordwijk dogs are welcome on a lead, with an off-lead area on the south side; in the Coepelduynen, by contrast, a ban applies east of the path.
Parking: on the Duinweg, between numbers 81 and 89, there are several parking strips, a handy departure point for the forestry area.
Part of a bigger whole:Hollands Duin is part of Hollandse Duinen National Park, which stretches along almost the entire South Holland coast.
Beyond the summer
A visit to Hollands Duin is an experience beyond the summer too, as every season shows the area from a different side.
Spring: the nightingale and the whinchat return from the south, and the temperature rises quickly in the sheltered dunes.
Summer blossom: dune pansy, stork's-bill, hawkweed and sand sedge cope well with the heat and flower in abundance.
Autumn: the sea buckthorn bears its striking orange berries and the moss is at its finest.
Winter quiet: in winter it is above all quiet, and it is precisely that calm that makes the area so appealing.
Protected woodland, a Dutch desert and wet valleys barely a stone's throw from the city: Hollands Duin proves you need not leave the Randstad for magnificent nature.
