Nature & Wildlife trips in the Netherlands (Best places for nature lovers)

The general idea of natural landscapes in the Netherlands is of flat, open expanses crisscrossed by dykes and dotted with windmills. This view belies the diversity of the geography and ecology because there are 20 national landscapes and 21 national parks in the Netherlands. Here are some of the best places in nature in the Netherlands for viewing plants and wildlife or enjoying some great holiday activities.

Enjoy the Rolling Countryside of De Hoge Veluwe National Park

The largest national park in the Netherlands, De Hoge Veluwe, is located in Gelderland, in the centre of the country, one hour east of Amsterdam. The park, considered the most scenic area of natural beauty, is popular with wildlife and nature lovers, walkers and cyclists. The varied landscape of forest and heathland is home to over 100 species of birds, numerous reptiles and amphibians, highland cattle, beavers and the Dutch “big five” – red deer, roe deer, badgers, wild boar and foxes. There are also over 100 lakes and pools for cooling dips.

Bikes and Wine in the South Limburg Hills

The untypically Dutch landscape of the South Limburg Hills is hilly, with forested areas, fast-flowing rivers and babbling streams. The bucolic landscape is a gorgeous destination for active holidays in the Netherlands. Visitors can enjoy hikes and bicycle rides or book an organised tour. Cyclists might enjoy booking their trip to coincide with the Amstel Gold Race. It’s also a lovely destination for wine lovers as many of the hiking trails pass vineyards producing local wines.

Go Birdwatching in Oostvaardersplassen

The Netherlands offers wonderful bird life. One of the most beautiful natural attractions in the Netherlands, Oostvaardersplassen is a popular destination for birdwatching. This nature reserve is close to the ocean in Flevoland Province in the North East and is part of the Nieuw Land National Park. It’s an area of swampy wetlands and marshes. Over 80 bird species have been recorded in this Special Protection Area for Birdlife, including the white-tailed eagle, great egret, Eurasian woodcock, blue-bearded tit and the bluethroat. You’ll also spot Konik ponies, Heck cattle and red deer.

Admire the Tulips in Keukenhof

One of the most iconic symbols of Dutch culture is the tulip. Initially imported into the Netherlands from the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) in the late 16th century, now 4.3 billion tulip bulbs are produced every year. The fields of flowers stretching as far as the eye can see in an endless carpet of colour is one of the most magnificent sights in the country. There are various places to best take in the multicoloured vista, the major one being the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens in Bollenstreek, about 40 km from Amsterdam. The season runs from the end of March to early May, and a major event is the Flower Parade in April, where tulips are joined by other spring flowers like daffodils and hyacinths in decorating elaborate floats and displays.

See the Wadden Sea

Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Wadden Sea stretches from Den Helder to Esbjerg in Denmark. It is the world’s largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mud flats and a unique place for nature lovers to visit. Europe’s largest coastal tidal wetland covers Dutch, Danish and German territory and is low-lying and dotted with sandbanks and around 50 islands. Five islands are the Dutch Wadden islands, with two of them having national park status. There is abundant flora and fauna on the beaches and dunes, including many species of birds, harbour and grey seals, harbour porpoises and white-beaked dolphins. A favourite activity here is to deliberately run aground on a sandbank in an old-fashioned sailboat and then hike across the tidal flat, returning before the tide rises again.

Take an Expedition to the Brabant Sahara

One of the most unusual natural wonders in the Netherlands is the Dunes of Loon and Drunen, 30 square kilometres of desert in the Noord-Brabant province. Also known as the Brabant Sahara, the dunes were formed more than 10,000 years ago. This largest area of sand drift in Western Europe is a Dutch national park. The drifting sands and the transition area where heather-covered grounds and pine forest meet the dunes are home to an array of mosses and grasses, creating a healthy environment for songbirds, birds of prey, roe deer and badgers. Visitors can explore walking paths, mountain bike trails and bridle paths here.

Take to the Water in Weerribben-Wieden National Park

Canals, ponds and lakes intermingled with forests, peatlands and reed beds make up the largest fen in North-West Europe, which offers boat trips. As you float through the swamps in a canoe or on a small motorboat, you can enjoy a calm landscape of verdant vegetation while keeping your eyes open for an otter or two. It’s also an opportunity to see Giethoorn, a quaint village known as the Dutch Venice. 170 wooden bridges connect peat islands on which sit thatched farm buildings dating from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Enjoy Sun and Sea in Zeeland

Over 600 kilometres of coastline awaits in Zeeland, the westernmost province of the Netherlands, where the varied beaches have been awarded blue flags. Here, visitors can enjoy water sports, sun, fresh seafood and seal and porpoise-spotting sea safaris. For those who prefer the land, there are cycling routes, hiking, discovering historic towns and the impressive Delta Works flood barriers to explore.

See Stars in Lauwersmeer National Park

From spring to autumn, over one hundred species of birds flock to this beauty spot at the edge of the Wadden Sea and on the border of Groningen and Friesland. Lauwersmeer National Park offers hiking trails with bird-watching huts dotted along the way. Even those who are not avid bird watchers will enjoy the spectacle of thousands of geese flying overhead and the dark, starry skies. This National Park is also home to foxes, orchids, Scottish Highland cattle and Konik horses.</p