10 Biggest Dutch National Parks
There are 20 Dutch national parks in total ranging in size from 17 to 370 square kilometers. The following are the 10 biggest national parks in Netherlands with brief overview of each nature reserve and what’s on offer for visitors…
#1- OOSTERSCHELDE NATIONAL PARK (Size: 370 km2, Province: Zeeland)
Oosterschelde (Eastern Scheldt) is by far the largest national park in the Netherlands and is unique in that most of the reserve’s area is comprised of water rather than land, which makes sailing a key activity for visitors. Formerly an open inlet of the North Sea, the Oosterschelde is now a contained body of water due to the construction of dikes and dams under the Deltaworks flood protection project. The surrounding landscape is a mix of salt marshes, mud flats, silts and dunes. Activities in the reserve include cycling, hiking, sailing, boat tours and special events.
#2- DRENTSCHE AA NATIONAL PARK (Size: 106 km2, Province: Drenthe)
At the heart of this Dutch national park is the Drenthe Aa creek meandering through it. Only a third of the park’s 10,600 hectares is nature reserve, the rest is farmland and residential areas. Still the landscape has much to offer visitors including a dense network of walking and cycling routes through fields, pastures, woodlands and heathland. More information.
#3- DE WEERRIBBEN-WIEDEN NATIONAL PARK (Size: 105 km2, Province: Overijssel)
The Weerribben-Wieden Dutch national park boasts a diverse landscape of rivers, lakes, woods and includes the largest peat bog in western Europe. There’s lots to do here including walking, cycling, canoeing, rowing and bird watching. See what special events are going on in the Geithoorn area. Recently, parts of this Dutch national park were featured in an episode of the American reality competition television series ‘Amazing Race‘. By car, the Weerribben-Wieden National Park is approximately 75 minutes from Amsterdam.
#4- UTRECHTSE HEUVELRUG NATIONAL PARK (Size: 100 km2, Province: Utrecht)
This Dutch national park is situated 30 minutes by car east of the city of Utrecht. It offers walking, hiking and cycling routes including a 3.5km path that is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. The park encompasses a ridge that was formed during the last ice age and is surrounded by the largest forest in the Randstad region. Ornate palaces and historic estates dot the landscape. Activities include horseback riding, bird watching and assorted tours.
#5- DE BIESBOSCH NATIONAL PARK (Size: 71 km2, Province: South Holland/North Brabant)
De Biesbosch is the only Dutch national park located in the province of South Holland, at least partially as the rest of this nature reserve crosses into North Brabant. At the heart of De Biesbosch is the largest freshwater tidal area in Europe, where two major European rivers – De Rijn (the Rhine which originates in Germany) and De Maas (the Meuse which originates in France) – converge near the city of Dordrecht. The estuary is filled with jungle-like plants and trees with numerous creeks, streams and tributaries crisscrossing. Kayaking is a popular activity in De Biesbosch as are hiking and cycling.
#6- DRENTS-FRIESWOLD NATIONAL PARK (Size: 61 km2, Province: Drenthe/Friesland)
This Dutch national park encompasses the second largest woodland and heathland area in the Netherlands. 3 high towers offer aerial views of different portions of the reserve. There are walking, cycling and horseback riding trails for visitors to explore.
#7- LAUWERSMEER NATIONAL PARK (Size: 60 km2, Province: Groningen/Friesland)
The Lauwersmeer Dutch national park includes the former Wadden Sea inlet that was transformed into a lake following the construction of a dam in 1969 for flood protection. The nature reserve is known for being a stopping ground for millions of birds migrating every spring and fall. The park has walking routes and offers special activities. By car, the Lauwersmeer National Park is aproximately 45 minutes from the city of Groningen.
#8- SCHIERMONNIKOOG NATIONAL PARK (Size: 54 km2, Province: Friesland)
Schiermonnikoog is the northern most Dutch national park and encompasses an the entire Wadden Island of Schiermonnikoog. The wind-swept landscape includes dunes, beaches, salt marshes and mud flats. There are walking and cycling routes, prime places for bird watching and nature treasure hunts. The park is accessible year-round by ferry from Lauwersoog.
#9- HOGE VELUWE NATIONAL PARK (Size: 54 km2, Province: Gelderland)
The Hoge Veluwe and Veluwezoom (below) national parks are located near each other in the central part of the Netherlands, north of the city of Arnhem. The Hoge Veluwe nature reserve is made up of forests, heathlands, grasslands and sand drifts and is home to a wide range of animals, birds and plant life. In addition to walking, hiking and cycling, there are special events and activities. The park is also home to the Kroller-Muller Museum which has a sizeable collection of contemporary art and works by such renown Dutch and international artists as Mondriaan, Monet, Picasso, Renoir and Van Gogh. The Hoge Veluwe National Park is approximately 45 minutes by car from Utrecht.
#10- VELUWEZOOM NATIONAL PARK (Size: 50 km2, Province: Gelderland)
The Veluwezoom is the Netherlands 10th largest national park and is easily accessible from the city of Arnhem. Here you can walk, run, cycle and mountain bike along set paths through a landscape that features forests, heather fields and wide flood plains. The park also has guided tours.
Related information…