De Mooiste Plekken in Nederland in De Herfst | Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands during Autumn | Top Things to See and Do in Fall in the Netherlands
“The Beginning is the End and End is the Beginning!”
I've always been intrigued by the fascinating season of autumn. To me, autumn is a grand manifestation of the ultimate reality on earth that one day everything has to perish just to be reborn again. And as the tree leaves turn into vibrant shades of orange, yellow, and red, one last time before they return to Mother Nature, the mushrooms start emerging, chestnuts lay all around, and soft rays of the sun kiss your face while you take a leisurely walk on the rustling dry leaves, autumn shows us that the end can also be beautiful. And during this beautiful season in the Netherlands, what are the things you can see and do? That's precisely what I'm going to tell you today. So let's begin!
Best things to See and Do in Herfst (Autumn in Dutch) in the Netherlands
1. Visit The Heather Fields of Veluwezoom National Park
The heather bloom marks the advent of autumn in the Netherlands. And the best place to witness it is the Veluwezoom National Park. Veluwezoom, the first National Park in the Netherlands, is a hilly terrain comprising heathlands and sand dunes. During early autumn (late August), the blooming heathers turn the place into a purple wonderland which's best viewed from the 90 m high hill of Posbank.
To know more about Veluwezoom National Park and how to visit it, please read our article The Purple Hills of Posbank | The Heather Fields of Veluwezoom National Park, Hoge Veluwe, Gelderland | The Best Place to See Heather Bloom in the Netherlands, and if you want to explore more such hidden gems in the Netherlands, please read our article Netherlands Off The Beaten Track | 34 Best Hidden Gems in the Netherlands.
2. Walk or Cycle through the Dutch Forests and National Parks
To appreciate the fall color in its truest essence, it is best to take a leisurely stroll or follow a biking trail through the winding lanes of the Dutch forests and the national parks, thereby relaxing, playing, and contemplating in the lap of nature. Though you can do that in any forest in your neighborhood, below are my top 5 places to wander during the autumn where I feel the manifestation of the fall is the best -
Hoge Veluwe National Park, Otterlo, Gelderland
Twickelerbos, Delden, Overijssel
Wechelerveld, Schalkhaar, Overijssel
Clingendael Estate, Den Haag, Zuid-Holland (which houses the famous Japanese Garden open for only a couple of months a year during spring and autumn) - Please read the article Landgoed Clingendael en Japanse Tuin in Den Haag | Clingendael Country Estate Park and Japanese Garden in The Hague, the Netherlands for more details about the place
Amsterdamse Bos, Amstelveen, Noord-Holland
3. Go Fruit Picking at Olmenhorst Estate
Another fun thing to do during autumn is fruit picking, mainly apples, and pears. Though there are several small farms scattered across the Netherlands where you could pick fruits, I always opt for ‘Landgoed de Olmenhorst’ in Lisserbroek, a half-hour drive from Amsterdam. With endless trees adorned with bright red apples and lush green pears, it is the largest fruit picking orchard in the Netherlands. The self-picking season starts from the second week of September and lasts until the end of October. You may have to reserve a slot for self-picking before your visit. For more information please visit olmenhorst.nl
4. Go Mushroom Hunting
The fall is the season when various colorful mushrooms adorn the forest floors providing you with an excellent opportunity to photograph them. Do not pluck the mushrooms without permission, as it is prohibited by the government in many places. Also, do not try to eat them without prior knowledge, as many may be inedible and even poisonous. Though you may find mushrooms in almost all corners of the Netherlands, my top 5 locations for abundant mushroom hunting are -
De Kranenkamp, Schalkhaar, Overijssel - Park at a small parking place with GPS Coordinates 52.299111° N, 6.193861° E, and walk between the streets Averlose Houtweg & Raalterweg
All across Kaapse Bossen, Utrechtse Heuvelrug, Utrecht
Forest surrounding the Pyramid of Austerlitz, Utrecht - Please read the article Monument De Pyramide van Austerlitz | The Dutch Pyramid of Austerlitz located in Woudenberg (Utrecht), the Netherlands for more details about the place
Twickelerbos and Landgoed Twickel, Delden, Overijssel
Landgoed Oostermaet, Lettele, Overijssel
5. Celebrate Halloween
As Vincent van Gogh portrayed around 150 years back, the Dutch are known as ‘Potato Eaters’ and not ‘Pumpkin Carvers.’ Despite that, horrors from the American tradition are slowly creeping eastwards into the Dutch culture. Since the last decade, Halloween parties have been popping up, Dutch stores have started selling ghastly orange zombies, buff superheroes, or sultry villain costumes, and even trick-or-treaters are seen to hit the streets (including my son). So, where to find the best Halloween events in the country? Here is my list of top Halloween parties across the Netherlands -
Superheroes vs. Villains, Sugar Factory, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland
Amsterdam Halloween, WesterUnie, Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland
Fright Nights, Walibi World amusement park, Biddingshuizen, Flevoland
Crazy Sexy Cool Halloween, Zuiderpark Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland
Haunted Castle, Keukenhof Castle, Lisse, Noord-Holland
Family Halloween celebration at Center Parcs across the country
Note: All of these parties may not be going through this year. So please consult their websites for the dates and timings.
Epilogue
So those were the best things to see and do during autumn in the Netherlands. Please let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed reading this article. And until we meet next time, I wish you merry traveling and happy shooting!
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