best national parks in the Netherlands
October 16, 2024
23 Januari 2026

These are the 27 best national parks in the Netherlands and Belgium where you want to walk this fall

With a bit of luck, we'll still have a beautiful Indian summer, but we're already feeling the autumn fever here at the editorial office! Autumn is the perfect time to (re)discover the national parks close to home, whether you're in the mood for a nice walk or a bike ride. research of Holidu Together with Komoot, we've mapped the most popular national parks in the Netherlands and Belgium for hiking and cycling. Do you know them all? Discover 27 tips for enjoying autumn in this new guide.

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PUUR JONNIE, an ode to Jonnie Boer. Today I had the honor of being at @delibrijezwolle for the book launch of @jonnie_en_therese. I spent the entire evening reading and browsing. WHAT A BOOK. What stories. WHAT AN ODE. Love, Nature, Pioneer, Fatherhood, Music, Jonnie's Foundation, Friendship, Suppliers, Local products, Relaxation, Entrepreneurship, Humor & The pure human being. Everything is covered, beautifully written by @joel.broekaert. With contributions from, among others, @nelsontanate, @rekkebus, @ronblaauwtje, @jorisbijdendijk, @sidney_schutte & @hvw043. Thanks for the wonderful afternoon @jonnie_en_therese 💚 PUUR JONNIE, Available from April 14 at your local bookstore (and online) 🖊️ @anne_de_buck
This is your ticket to Japan without taking a plane 🥢 @tewatashi.ams in De Pijp serves an authentic Edo-Mae Sushi Experience and is super consistent in their quality. It's the place we keep going back to when we have something to celebrate <3. In this video I'm sharing the 2 hour experience in 60 seconds. Still dreaming about the buttery ika nigiri. 🤤 ✖️✖️✖️ 🖊️ @anne_de_buck { one of the best authentic Japanese restaurants in Amsterdam serving premium sushi omakase in De Pijp }
𝗔 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗳𝗲́ 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆? @eetcafe_de_reiger is the spot to remember. Cozy, casual, and a seasonal menu. This one was on my list to share for a year and finally it's (almost) asparagus season again! 🤤 Another plus? Prices are very reasonable here! 📍 Eetcafé de Reiger Jordaan, Amsterdam City Center Save this spot for when you're craving warm Dutch traditional dishes in the heart of Amsterdam. And did you hear the same team took over Eetcafé van Beeren? I can't wait to go there too! ✖️✖️✖️ 🖊️ @anne_de_buck
A grandma's cookbook. Three Michelin stars. And a beautiful 70s villa in a quiet neighborhood in Bangkok, where you are welcomed as if you were at the chefs' home. The Sühring brothers don't cook based on trends; they cook based on memories. Of their grandmother's farm, of the flavors of their youth in Germany, and of techniques passed down through generations. @relaischateaux invited me to experience Sühring during a solo lunch, and this is truly my ultimate definition of culinary self-care. This was a surprising afternoon in Bangkok, where I ate the best German food I have ever tasted. And that in a city where I normally avoid European restaurants. Well, for @restaurant_suhring, you really want to make that exception. Signature dishes that I still think back to regularly? 🍴 Labskaus with caviar 🍴 Enleta waffle with Pfalz vinegar 🍴 Game pâté 🍴 Dry-aged Duck TIP: When you go to Sühring, reserve seats at the kitchen bar so you have a view of the chefs at work! Follow @yourlbb for more tips you can trust. ✖️✖️✖️ 🖊️ @anne_de_buck #prinvited #bangkok #michelin #relaischateaux In this reels, I take you along for fine dining in Bangkok at the three-Michelin-starred restaurant Sühring.
This is one of the best free outings in the spring! Did you know that you can gather (or pick, for the connoisseurs 😉) oysters yourself at various locations in the Netherlands? I’m in Zeeland for a bit this weekend, and if we can make it, we’ll go again. 📍In this video, I show you where you can fill your bucket. Comment *oester* for the comprehensive guide with all the details about all 8 locations + handy tips and rules. Important to know: – Max. 10 kilos per person (≈ 1 bucket) – For personal use only – Do not scoop or scrape the seabed – Go at low tide Handy things to bring: Bucket, screwdriver, boots, work gloves, tea towel, clean clothes, and garbage bags (for the oysters *and* dirty clothes). And of course: bring an oyster knife, lemon, and champagne too 🍋🥂 Because you’ll want to taste something right away, won’t you! The oyster season runs from September to about April / early May, so now that the water isn't so cold, this is the perfect outing. In the full guide, I share exactly where you can easily find them, without much effort. Comment oyster and I'll send it to you right away! Who do you want to go oyster gathering with soon? ✖️✖️✖️ 🖊️ @anne_de_buck
𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 These are those few magical weeks each year when the city suddenly feels different. Everything is in bloom and all you want to do is be outside. Coffee to-go in hand, and just head out as soon as the sun shows up. 📍 Bloesempark – Amsterdamse Bos (the classic, yes it gets busy, but totally worth it) 📍 Rijksmuseum 📍 Fruit Garden of West 📍 Westerpark 📍 Jozef Israëlskade 📍 WG site 📍 Nelson Mandelapark 📍 Bos en Lommerplantsoen 📍Amstelpark By mid-April most of the sakura will already be gone, so if you want to catch it: this is your moment. I'll definitely be doing a few more rounds before it's over. ✖️✖️✖️ 🖊️ @anne_de_buck _______________________________________________ 🌸 Discover the best places to spot cherry blossom in Amsterdam and enjoy the sakura in full bloom. 🌸

Add this to your fall bucket list: 27 of the best national parks in the Netherlands and Belgium

From heathland to forests, these parks in the Netherlands and Belgium are the perfect destination for a walk or bike ride this season. Which one will you discover?

1. Sallandse Heuvelrug – Overijssel, Netherlands

Walking routes per km²: 19,09
Cycle routes per km²: 10,63
The Sallandse Heuvelrug has earned its first place! This national park may be small at 35 km², but it's a true gem. Perfect for a day of hiking or cycling through the heathland. In the woods, you can spot deer and foxes, and for families with children, the park offers a fun outing with educational excursions and themed weeks. Don't miss the visitor center!

2. Scheldt Valley – Antwerp and East Flanders, Belgium

Walking routes per km²: 17,25
Cycle routes per km²: 7,83
The newcomer Scheldt Valley, officially designated a national park in 2023, is a must for nature and cycling enthusiasts. Between Antwerp and Ghent, you can walk along dikes and towpaths, spot birds in the polders, and cycle past castles and villages along the Scheldt River. Don't forget to visit Dendermonde, the town of the Bayard Horse, nestled in the heart of the Scheldt Valley!

3. Veluwezoom – Gelderland, Netherlands

Walking routes per km²: 18,74
Cycle routes per km²: 5,62
Veluwezoom, less well-known than its neighbor Hoge Veluwe, is definitely worth a visit. The mix of polders, forests, and hills makes this park particularly impressive. Autumn is the rutting season for red deer, offering a unique opportunity to see these magnificent animals during a ranger excursion.

4. The Drentsche Aa stream and esdorp landscape – Drenthe, Netherlands

Walking routes per km²: 15,08
Cycle routes per km²: 7,49

5. Loonse and Drunense Dunes – North Brabant, Netherlands

Walking routes per km²: 15,19
Cycle routes per km²: 4,59

6. Brabant Forests – Flemish Brabant, Belgium

Walking routes per km²: 13,92
Cycle routes per km²: 4,69

7. Utrecht Hill Ridge – Utrecht, Netherlands

Walking routes per km²: 12,41
Cycle routes per km²: 3,01

8. Dunes of Texel – North Holland, Netherlands

Walking routes per km²: 12,19
Cycle routes per km²: 4,09

9. The Biesbosch – North and South Holland, Netherlands

Walking routes per km²: 8,88
Cycle routes per km²: 5,33

10. Bosland – Limburg, Belgium

Walking routes per km²: 7,60
Cycle routes per km²: 5,40

11. De Zoom – Kalmthoutse Heide – North Brabant, Antwerp – Netherlands, Belgium

Hiking trails: 10,75 km²
Cycling routes: 2,13 km²

12. Dwingelderveld – Drenthe – Netherlands

Hiking trails: 9,32 km²
Cycling routes: 2,41 km²

13. Drents-Friese Wold – Drenthe, Friesland – Netherlands

Hiking trails: 8,79 km²
Cycling routes: 2,54 km²

14. De Meinweg – Limburg – Netherlands

Hiking trails: 13,24 km²
Cycling routes: 1,12 km²

15. South Kennemerland – North Holland – Netherlands

Hiking trails: 8,84 km²
Cycling routes: 1,84 km²

16. Hoge Kempen – Limburg – Belgium

Hiking trails: 5,56 km²
Cycling routes: 2,93 km²

17. The Hoge Veluwe – Gelderland – Netherlands

Hiking trails: 4,89 km²
Cycling routes: 1,56 km²

18. The Maasduinen – Limburg – Netherlands

Hiking trails: 5,84 km²
Cycling routes: 0,84 km²

19. Vallée de la Semois – Namur, Luxembourg – Belgium

Hiking trails: 3,99 km²
Cycling routes: 1,14 km²

20. Weerribben-Wieden – Overijssel – Netherlands

Hiking trails: 2,95 km²
Cycling routes: 1,17 km²

21. Lauwersmeer – Groningen, Friesland – Netherlands

Hiking trails: 2,17 km²
Cycling routes: 1,53 km²

22. De Alde Feanen – Friesland – Netherlands

Hiking trails: 1,65 km²
Cycling routes: 1,23 km²

23. L'Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse – Namur, Hainaut – Belgium

Hiking trails: 2,71 km²
Cycling routes: 0,93 km²

24. The Great Peel – North Brabant, Limburg – Netherlands

Hiking trails: 4,18 km²
Cycling routes: 0,15 km²

25. Schiermonnikoog – Friesland – Netherlands

Hiking trails: 2,31 km²
Cycling routes: 0,31 km²

26. Eastern Scheldt – Zeeland – Netherlands

Hiking trails: 0,54 km²
Cycling routes: 0,56 km²

27. New Land – Flevoland – Netherlands

Hiking trails: 0,43 km²
Cycling routes: 0,04 km²

more Autumn tips

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