A hike through the Dutch countryside may not be the first thing that pops into your head when planning a trip to the Netherlands, but it should be and we’re going to tell you why and how to do it.
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Our first trip to the Netherlands was unfortunately on a river cruise. It was not our typical style of travel but it did introduce us to the beautiful countryside around Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Zeeland. Beautifully tended farmland surrounded by low grass-covered dikes, frolicking livestock, smiling sun-freckled locals, fairy tale villages, easy flat walking paths — there is much to love about hiking in the Netherlands.
If you want to know more about that trip, read Our First River Cruise, Why It May Be Our Last.
Hiking the Netherlands is a unique experience
Roughly one-third of the country is below sea level and some of it was built on land that was reclaimed from the sea. There is water everywhere you look, from the temperamental North Sea to the lazy rivers and canals which crisscross the land. It is apparent to anyone who visits that the Dutch people love nature but what sets them apart in my mind is their determination to both protect and conquer the land. They build giant dams to hold back the sea while still protecting vulnerable waterfowl and plants. As a people in general they seem progressively energetic and yet they know how to slow down and smell the tulips. As someone who has lived near a disappearing Louisiana coast my entire life, I feel a strong affinity to the Dutch people. Their stubbornness to reside in a land that is continuously sinking is something I understand well.
Walking allows you to notice and appreciate what sets the Netherlands apart.
Hike the Netherlands with help
Hiking in the Netherlands is easy, finding a tour operator that offers luggage transport and walking notes is not. In previous years we recommended Hike in Holland but they are no longer an option. Freewheeling Adventures offers an affordable 6-day walking holiday in the Netherlands and Backroads offers a higher-end group tour that combines Belgium and the Netherlands.
Hike the Netherlands on your own
with a little help from us
Hiking trails in the Netherlands don’t receive the same level of international attention as other well-known European trails, and that’s a shame because they have several long-distance trails that offer a variety of terrain and sightseeing. If you want to take the DIY approach, you should first familiarize yourself with the 12 Provinces of the Netherlands by visiting their tourism site. Here’s a quick summary:
Click here for Friesland hiking trails
- Considered by Lonely Planet to be #3 in their “Best of Europe 2018”
- Walking routes include part of the Dutch Coastal Path, Frisian Forest and Wadden region which includes island ferries
Click here for Groningen hiking trails
- Situated on the North Sea in a region far removed from mass-tourism
- Walking routes include dune walks, paths with historic raised villages (terpen) and tidal walks (wadlopen) in the Wadden Sea (a UNESCO Heritage area), and the first stage of the Pieterpad long distance trail
Click here for Drenthe hiking trails
- Beautifully situated towns surrounded by forests and peat swamps
- Walking routes include hunebeds, forests and heathlands through 3 national parks and an early section of the Pieterpad
Click here for Overijssel hiking trails
- Situated on the German border with lakes, hillsides and large stretches of peat bogs
- Walking routes include national parks, country estates, sections of the Pieterpad and the Hanseatic Path through old trading centers
Click here for Gelderland hiking trails
- Lush gardens and estates situated just east of Amsterdam and Utrecht
- Walking routes include sections of Pieterpad, Hanseatic Path, Peddlar Path and Roman Limespad (an old Roman Empire border)
Click here for Limburg hiking trails
- Cave paintings and beautiful towns such as Maastricht and Thorn bordering Germany and Brussels
- Walking routes include Mt. Pieter and the end of the Pieterpad
Click here for North Brabant hiking trails
- Home province of Vincent Van Gogh and home to 5 national parks with excellent birdwatching
- Walking routes include Floris V (which we love because it goes through Willemstad), sections of Pilgrim’s Path and the Borderland Path with Belgium which ends in the popular village of Thorn
Click here for Zeeland hiking trails
- A coastal walking and seafood mecca on some of the prettiest beaches in the Netherlands
- Walking routes include forests, windy beaches and islands along popular trails such as Oosterschelde, Dutch Coastal Path and Borderland Path
Click here for South Holland hiking trails
- Easy walks and beautiful beaches set amongst picturesque coastal towns close to Delft and Rotterdam
- Walking routes include sections of Pilgrim’s Path, Floris V, Dutch Coastal Path, Great Rivers Path, Green Heart Path and the Roman Limespad
Click here for North Holland hiking trails
- Coastal walks through seaside towns within close proximity to Amsterdam
- Walking routes include Great Frieslandpad, Zuiderzeepad (perfect if you love seafood) and sections of Floris V, Pilgrim’s Path and Dutch Coastal Path
Click here for Utrecht hiking trails
- Botanical gardens and a national park near the city of Utrecht, which many prefer over Amsterdam
- Walking routes include sections of Green Heart Path, Great Rivers Path, Floris V, Roman Limespad and Waterline Path which ends in Dordrecht (the oldest city in Holland and well worth a visit)
Click here for Flevoland hiking trails
- Newest of the provinces and recently reclaimed from the sea, full of wildlife and water science
- Walking routes include short coastal marshland trails on Marker Wadden (a newly created island) and the Pioneer Trail
Long distance trails in the Netherlands
Many Americans have probably never considered hiking the Netherlands because most of the websites and books with trail notes haven’t been translated into English. You have to be comfortable using Google Translate (or similar) and relying on GPX coordinates for most of these trails. Don’t let this discourage you, there are plenty of English-only speaking people who have walked these trails and most Dutch people speak English so it’s easy to ask for help. We’ve included a list of major trails and some resources below to help you plan your own walking holiday in the Netherlands.
Long distance trails in the Netherlands are called lange-afstands-wandelpaden or LAWs. You will know them by their red and white trail markings. There are also Dutch regional trails which interconnect and they have red and yellow trail markings. Everything you need to know about Dutch trail systems can be found at Wandelnet.nl
Floris V-pad: 152 miles
- Runs from Amsterdam to Bergen and includes lots of windmills and a walk through the beautiful fort town of Willemstad (which we can personally attest is AMAZING)!
Frisian Forest Path: 91 miles
- Runs from Lauwersoog to Steenwijk and links 4 national parks plus a stop at the utopian Colonies of Benevolence which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Borderland Path: 231 miles
- Begins in Sluis and runs along the Belgian border and ends with the picture perfect white village of Thorn.
Dutch Coastal Path: 442 miles
- Longest distance trail in the Netherlands, divided into 3 stages (Sluis to Hoek van Holland, South and North Holland and Groningen to Friesland).
Great Frieslandpad: 225 miles
- Runs from Bergen aan Zee to the German town of Leer, crossing 4 provinces varied terrain.
Great River Path: 166 miles
- Follows 5 rivers and begins in Hoek van Holland, runs through Rotterdam and ends in Kleve Germany.
Hertogenpad: 148 miles
- Runs from Breda to Roermond, covering several nature reserves, dunes and friendly villages.
Liberation Route: 6,214 miles
- This transnational route goes through more than just the Netherlands. It follows the Allies advance to liberate Europe during World War II, passing through England, France, Brussels, Luxembourg, Germany and Poland. Maps and walking notes are in multiple languages, including English.
Maarten van Rossumpad: 239 miles
- Runs from ‘s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch) to Steenwijk and includes a stop at Cannenburch Castle.
Migratory Bird Path (Trekvogelpad ): 249 miles
- Runs from Bergen aan Zee through the middle of the Netherlands to Usselo and is popular for bird watchers because it passes through several bird nature reserves.
Noaberpad: 258 miles
- Begins in Bad Nieuweschans and ends in Oosterbos, crisscrossing the eastern neighbor (Germany). This is one of the most interesting routes in our humble opinion.
Overijssels Havezathenpad: 169 miles
- Runs from Oldenzaal to Steenwijk and passes through lush gardens, canals and peat swamps.
Pedlar Path: 231 miles
- Runs from Bad Bentheim Germany to The Hague, following the historic footsteps of peddlers through old merchant villages.
Pieterpad: 306 miles
- Most well-known of the Dutch LAWs, rambling through 5 provinces (Groningen, Drenthe, Overijssel, Gelderland and Limburg). It begins in Pieterburen and ends in Maastricht. If you just want to do a portion of this trail, look at Hotel Hoeve de Vredenhof where you can stay in one place and hike 5 stages of the Pieterpad.
Pilgrim’s Path: 283 miles
- Begins at the Amsterdam Beguinage, passes through the Green Heart of the Netherlands, beautiful Maastricht and ends in Visé Belgium.
Pioneer Trail: 124 miles
- Short but unique, the Pionierspad runs from Steenwijk to Muiden in the Flevoland province and includes a castle and old wooden ship.
Roman Limespad: 171 miles
- Follows the ancient northern border of the Roman Empire, from Katwijk aan Zee to Millingen aan de Rijn and includes monuments and relics from the past.
Waterline Path (Waterliniepad): 198 miles
- Runs from Volendam to Dordrecht (the oldest city in Holland), showcasing several cities, fortified towns, rivers and a national park.
Westerborkpad: 211 miles
- Memorial walk that runs from from the Hollandsche Schouwburg, a gathering place for Jews in Amsterdam during World War II, to Kamp Westerbork, where over 100,000 Dutch Jews and Roma were detained in route to other concentration camps.
Zuiderzeepad: 333 miles
- Follows along what used to be the southern sea, this route runs from Enkhuizen to Marken and includes a 19 mile walk across a dike over the beautiful lake IJsselmeer.
DIY resources for hiking the Netherlands
Wandelnet
- This is the first (and probably only) site you will need to hike the Netherlands on your own. Learn how their trail systems are organized, search by different types of routes (circular, long distance, regional, city), learn about each province, download GPX files, find hiking guides and more!
Long Distance Paths
- An interactive list of Dutch long distance trails and regional paths that allows you to select points along the trail to create your own itinerary. It includes links to lodging along the trails. This option is best for those who love mapping out their own routes and are comfortable relying only on GPX and trail markers (no written instructions).
Natuurmonumenten
- This is the Netherlands conservation site and it includes hiking paths across the country that focus on wildlife and natural conservation. You can search by location, activity, distance, wheelchair accessibility and dog-friendly. Use this site on a mobile device (last time we checked maps didn’t work well on our laptop) and use it to find day hikes (not long distance trails). I’m hoping they work out the glitches soon because this site has a lot of trails and it translates well into English using Google Translate.
NS Train Walks
- This is an excellent option for day hikers who want to hike the Netherlands via train. The national train service has created about 45 walks ranging from 4 to 11 miles and all accessible without a car.
Vrienden op de Fiets
- This is personally our favorite resource. We haven’t used it yet but we love the concept. An annual membership of about $10.50 gains you access to people’s homes along hiking routes in the Netherlands. These homestays include breakfast and cost about $24 per night. Luggage transport is not included and these are true homestays so don’t expect bed and breakfast or local inn services.
Convinced yet? If you visit Amsterdam in the future, we hope you will venture out and hike the countryside to see for yourself what makes the Netherlands such a beautifully unique country.
