Between August and September, the Netherlands turns into a purple paradise with colorful purple heather fields, known as ‘heide’ in Dutch. This happens only once a year for a month, and we never miss a chance to hike in the heather fields with my Dutch husband, or his mother-in-law. Each year, we try new heather fields around the Netherlands, so we never go to the same place again. Below is my personal collection of places to admire pink heather fields around the Netherlands (with useful information). Each place can be easily found in Google maps. Enjoy!
All photos are mine.
Posbank in Veluwe Zoom
This is my favorite heather place in the Netherlands where pink heather hills are combined with forest and cool viewpoints. Gelderland province.
ℹ️ Entrance, parking: free.
✔️Possibility of snacks at Paviljoen de Posbank
✔️Not overcrowded walking routes
✔️Free drink water well next to Paviljoen de Posbank
🔹Recommendations: visit after 4 pm or early in the morning to avoid crowds and to secure your parking spot.
🔹Rent electro scooters (veluwescooter.nl) or just bike to cover longer distances.
🔹Do not park near Uitkijkpunt De Posbank before 4pm.
Ermelose Heide
My second favorite heather place – mesmerizing endless Ermelose heather fields. Even in rain, it was beautiful! Gelderland province.
ℹ️ Entrance, parking: free (we parked nearby Ermelose Schaapskooi).
✔️Beautiful pine forest with endless walking routes
✔️Delicious lunch break at the Ermelose Schaapskooi
✔️Possibility to buy organic heather honey
✔️The return of the sheep herd to the cage is a cool sight!
✔️Kids playground on the territory of the sheepfold
✔️No asphalt, just natural sand/muddy paths
🔹Recommendation: take a walking tour with a shepherd for 2.5 hours (start 12.30).
Estate Heidestein-Bornia
Admire a variety of landscapes at the estate Heidestein-Bornia (nearby Zeist): mesmerizing sandy valleys, endless heather hills, a fairy-tale green lake, pine forests, and nature wells. It is a paradise for a walk or a day out. Utrecht province.
ℹ️ Entrance, parking: free.
✔️The hilly landscape that constantly goes up and down
✔️Meeting sunset on the bench in the heather fields
✔️A lake with turquoise water nearby the Teahouse
✔️A mountain bike track of 17km
🔹We parked at Traay 288, 3971GX
Heide Hilversum
We hiked in the heather fields here a couple of years ago when visiting Hilversum. At that time I did not have my Instagram page yet, ha ha. The Hilversum heather covers the Hoorneboegse heide, the Bussumerheide, the Westerheide and the Zuiderheide. This area partly covers Het Gooi Nattur Revervaat, which is nice for a walk/hike in any season of the year. There are no hills in this area. North Holland province.
ℹ️ Entrance, parking: free
✔️In closer proximity to Amsterdam
Elspeetsche Heide
We walked in the Elspeetsche Heide with my husband and his mom. It’s a vast nature area in the province of Gelderland. I loved this place for quiet atmosphere, and colorful sunset. We only saw a couple of people there, so it is not crowded heather place.
ℹ️ Entrance, parking: free
✔️Admire the late sunset here
🔹Try to visit in the second part of the day.
Sallandse Heuvelrug
National Park Sallandse Heuvelrug is a must-see place for heather hikes, mushroom hunt, and autumn walks. It was formed during the ice age by two glaciers, so the landscape is hilly with several view points. Overijssel province.
ℹ️ Entrance, parking – free
✔️The first thing I noticed – sooo fresh air!
✔️It is a heaven for walking, cycling, mountain biking and horse riding
✔️The heather fields here are on the same level as in Posbank in the Veluwe
🔹Check where to park (check the website beforehand). Although there is a road through the national park, there are not many parking places inside the area.
🔹Visit in the morning to escape the crowds.
Dwingelderveld
The Dwingelderveld National Park is a heather land and woodland reserve of 3,700 hectares in the southwestern part of the province of Drenthe in the Netherlands. Actually, it was my first ever attraction to visit in Drenthe.
✔️The area has many hiking and biking trails (marked and unmarked, paved and unpaved).
🔹Good walking boots are advisable
🔹The departure and arrival of the herd of sheep is a Must see! There are 2 sheep farms (schaapskooi) managed by the Natuurmonumenten organization. We passed by Dwingelder schaapskudde Lhee located in Lhee (Achter ‘t Zaand 4). It was about 10 min walk from the parking lot along the road of Lhee and Kraloo.
Schoorlse Duinen
Here you can combine walking in the heather fields with dunes. This is one of the highest and widest dune areas in the Netherlands. There is also a forest with sandy paths. North Holland province.
✔️You can bike here ( but not everywhere)
🔹Follow the blue route to reach heather fields.
🔹I recommend this place for walking and hiking
Heather fields, The Netherlands
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I would really appreciate if you leave a comment about what you think about this post. What are your favorite places to see the pink heather in the Netherlands, and where?
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