De Boseilanden, Zwaanshoek

De Boseilanden is about a 3km long and narrow stretch of land alongside the N205. It’s a deceptively large area and, judging by the lack of dogs everywhere, it’s also not that well known. Keep this to yourselves…

There are several entrances to the area, driving up pathways and parking in private housing areas, but I prefer to use the larger, common parking area just off the Bennebroekerweg. The last few times I have been there at weekends, there has been a couple of trucks selling flowers and kibbling, but the parking area is big enough not to be blocked by these vans, and in fact the kibbling was a welcome end to our little trek 🙂

The walk is not really circular, but because it is essentially a large dyke, the “there-and-back” can be on both sides and gives you a feeling of a circular route.

The whole area is shared with horse paths and it is also a large mountain bike course, so you need to be on the lookout to make sure you don’t get in anyone’s way, especially if you wander across a bike path. They are easy to spot, the light gravel narrow paths are for bikes. Having said that, I think I saw 4 mountain bikers in total on my walk in springtime, so they should be pretty easy to avoid. If it looks busy then just stay off their path, there’s enough space for everyone.

I think in all there is pretty much all you would want for a walk here. Open spaces, clean enough water, hidden small animals to sniff out, there is even a spot with a tunnel and poles to play-train a little. Although the park is next to a busy road, there is a canal separating the two, so unless your pup is a serious swimmer and climber with zero recall, then there is no chance of him wandering into the busy traffic.