Nationaal Park Hollandse Duinen - Nature

The Nationaal Park Hollandse Duinen is a special coastal landscape in Zuid-Holland, where the sea, beach, dunes, woodlands, estates, villages and towns all lie close together. The park stretches from Hoek van Holland to Hillegom, forming a long, green coastal strip full of nature, culture and recreation.

What can you expect in Nationaal Park Hollandse Duinen?

• Large and varied coastal area: The national park covers around 450 km², is approximately 47 km long and around 8.5 km wide at its broadest point. As a result, it is not a classic enclosed park, but an extensive landscape with beaches, dunes, woodlands, parks, estates, bulb fields and recreation areas.
• From Hoek van Holland to Noordwijk and Hillegom: Along the coast you will find rugged sea dunes, wide beaches and quiet walking paths, while further inland, estates, country houses, bulb fields and city parks provide variety.
• Important nature areas: Around 6,000 hectares within the park consist of Natura 2000 nature. These are protected areas with special plants, animals and dune landscapes.
• Solleveld & Kapittelduinen: This Natura 2000 area covers around 827 hectares and lies between The Hague, Ter Heijde and Hoek van Holland. Here you will find old dunes, young dunes, dune woodlands, grasslands, small heath areas, ponds and scrub.
• Westduinpark & Wapendal: This area near The Hague covers around 246 hectares. The Westduinpark lies between Kijkduin and Scheveningen and, despite its urban location, feels like a true dune area. Wapendal is smaller and special because of its old dunes and dune heath.
• Meijendel & Berkheide: With around 2,878 hectares, this is one of the largest and best-known nature areas within Hollandse Duinen. The area lies near Wassenaar, The Hague and Katwijk and is known for high dunes, infiltration ponds, dune valleys, woodlands, scrub and bird-rich areas.
• Coepelduynen : The Coepelduynen lie between Katwijk and Noordwijk and cover around 188 hectares. This relatively open dune area is best known for its lime-rich dune grasslands and characteristic sea village landscape.
• Hollands Duin : In the northern part, you will find areas such as Berkheide, Coepelduynen, Boswachterij Noordwijk, Ganzenhoekbos, Lentevreugd and Noordvoort. These are lovely areas for walking, cycling, birdwatching and getting some fresh sea air.
• Estates and culture: In addition to pure nature, places such as Landgoed Ockenburgh, Kasteel Duivenvoorde, Landgoed Voorlinden, Haagse Bos and Keukenhof also belong to the broader landscape of Hollandse Duinen. This makes it easy to combine a dune walk with culture, hospitality or a visit to a garden or museum.
• For walkers and cyclists: Walking routes, cycle paths and beach entrances run throughout the park. Popular starting points include Meijendel, Wassenaarse Slag, Kijkduin, Scheveningen, Katwijk, Noordwijk and Hoek van Holland.

A varied experience on the South Holland coast

Nationaal Park Hollandse Duinen is ideal for anyone who wants to combine nature and coast during a day out or holiday. You can walk through quiet dune valleys, cycle along the coast, watch birds near infiltration ponds, get some fresh air on the beach or visit an estate. Thanks to its location close to places such as The Hague, Wassenaar, Katwijk, Noordwijk and Hoek van Holland, the area is also easy to combine with a city trip or beach holiday.

Practical information

• Entry locations: Nationaal Park Hollandse Duinen has several access points. Commonly used starting locations include De Tapuit visitor centre in Meijendel, Landgoed Ockenburgh near Kijkduin, the beach entrances at Wassenaarse Slag, Katwijk, Noordwijk, Scheveningen and Hoek van Holland.
• Parking locations: Parking is available, among other places, at Meijendel on Meijendelseweg in Wassenaar, at Wassenaarse Slag, around Kijkduin, near the beach entrances of Katwijk and Noordwijk, and at Hoek van Holland. Always check the current parking fees and parking rules on site.
• Opening times: Large parts of the dune and beach area are freely accessible, but rules may vary by nature area. Some fragile sections are only accessible during the day, temporarily closed during the breeding season or accessible only with a day ticket.
• Accessibility: Due to sandy paths, height differences and narrow dune paths, not all routes are suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs or people with reduced mobility. However, there are wheelchair and buggy-friendly routes, including in parts of Meijendel and at various beach entrances. The De Tapuit visitor centre also has an accessible toilet.
• Dogs: The rules for dogs vary by sub-area and season. In some areas dogs must be kept on a lead, while fragile nature zones or breeding areas may be completely closed to dogs.
• Information and routes: For walking routes, cycle routes, excursions and current access rules, visit information points such as De Tapuit in Meijendel and the information point at Landgoed Ockenburgh.

Visit Nationaal Park Hollandse Duinen for a varied journey of discovery along the sea, dunes, woodlands, estates and historic coastal towns.

From a short beach walk to a long cycle ride through the dunes: in Hollandse Duinen you discover a different part of the South Holland coast every time.

For information

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