Three beautiful walks and hiking trails near Amsterdam
Elswout Estate Woodland Walk
Though it feels like a world away from urban life, Elswout Estate is just a short cycle or drive from Haarlem’s city centre. This historic summer residence was once a home for Dutch gentry who, stifled by the heat and disease rampant in the city, would escape to the quiet, clean air of the neighbouring countryside.
Enter the gates of the estate (one of the many in the area) and you’ll be struck immediately by the main building with its imposing stone façade. But the grand draw of the estate lies beyond the house itself, in its extensive gardens. The surrounding natural sprawl has been landscaped to reflect the ‘English style’, with woodland paths, a quaint chain bridge, and a duck pond, all of it hemmed in by dense green trees. It’s no surprise that wildlife is abundant here, with woodpeckers and owls making the woodland their home. And to top it all off, the historic Orangerie on the property has been converted into a restaurant, making it perfect for a bite and a drink after a long walk.
Walk along the protected Naardermeer
Just beyond Amsterdam’s city limits, you’ll find the peaceful wetlands of the Naardermeer (one of the region's best nature areas). As the first nature reserve in the Netherlands, this protected lake region has survived against all odds, despite many threats over the centuries. In 1906, the capital wanted to turn the area into a garbage dump, but it was mercifully saved when a group of nature conservationists purchased it. Gazing out at the great natural beauty of the Naardermeer – famed for its diverse population of birds – it’s hard to imagine it might never have been at all.
Start your walk at the Naardermeer Visitor Centre. It’s from here that several clearly-marked trails begin, tracing their way into the reserve. For those looking for a short wander, the easy circular walk is approximately 3km, which makes it ideal for families. This trail takes you past the quiet reed-lined waterways and their surrounding fields, with moments for designated bird-watching along the way. If you’re looking for a longer stretch, there’s also a 7km hiking route available, which ventures deeper into the reserve through damp rugged woodlands. Walk beside historic peat-cutting canals – referring to the process of creating shallow lakes and canals that were then used to move dried peat – and discover the complex network of narrow dykes between the lakes. Much of the reserve’s fragile ecosystem remains solely accessible by water, protecting the natural landscape and offering visitors a true moment of quiet.
Wander through the Amsterdamse Bos
The Amsterdamse Bos is often described as Amsterdam’s backyard, but its grand sprawling size means it contains pockets of what feels like true wilderness. The southern reaches of the forest offer some of the Amsterdam region’s best woodland paths, with a network of trails leading deep into its heart. The Bosbaan Walk is one of the more accessible paths available in the forest, following the banks of the rowing lake. At 2.2km in length, the Bosbaan was the world's first entirely man-made rowing course, hosting numerous international regattas and World Championship events. Rising up out of the wilderness, its broad paths now make for an easy wander for those not looking to stray too far.
Travel further south and you’ll find a quieter route. The Schinkel Bos, part of the forest’s lower offshoots, has a more rugged sense of wilderness. As the youngest part of the Amsterdamse Bos, it is often forgotten or overlooked, but it offers plenty of natural delights for those willing to go off the beaten path. Less accessible than most of the Amsterdamse Bos, it’s worth the hike for its quiet stretches of grasslands, woodlands and wetlands that attract plenty of wildlife, including a host of birds and scruffy wild Highlander cows.