Author: Debbie

Geestmerambacht, Koedijk

North of Alkmaar, close to Heerhugowaard, is the Geestmerambacht park. This is a very popular summer area for children and is close to a Europarcs centre. For that reason, dogs are only allowed off leash in this part of the park from 1 October to 1 April. For the year-round off leash area in this park check out Vlasgat.

There are 2 main car parks/ entrances into the walking route

  • Wagenweg, at the north of the park, close to the Europarcs
  • Nauertogt, at the south of the park

The whole walking area is a set of pathways forming a circular route around the Zomerdel lake. You can simply stick to the maintained pathways around the lake, which is very much appreciated in wet, muddy winter months! This alone will take you roughly an hour to walk around. Alternatively, if you are feeling a little more adventurous, then pull on the waterproof boots and take on some of the muddy paths, walk along the numerous waterfronts, take some of the pathways behind the main pathway, climb up the viewing points, wander into the forest areas and generally just meander around. You can’t get lost, it’s basically a big circle.

And if you happen to get your dog super muddy in your trip, there is a “Sponge Dog” dog washing booth at the south end of the lake right next to the southern car park.

If for some reason you find your walk needs extending then you can walk over the bridge on the north-west side into Vlasgat and continue for about another hour.

There are horse stables nearby that give riding lessons, so be on the lookout for horse riding groups (and fresh horse deposits).

There are 2 restaurants on this route, both near the 2 car parks: Lovers and Hunters at the south which seems to be open all year round, and El Chiringuito at the north, which is closed during the high winter months.

This walk is pretty popular so if you stick to the paths, then be prepared to meet a lot of walkers and pups. If you prefer a more solitary walk then I’m afraid you will probably need to be trudging through the wet areas…

Pros:

  • Clean and tidy park, lots of seats and poop bins
  • A very welcome solid/hard path in winter!
  • Varied terrain: water, forest and some open spaces

Cons:

  • Very muddy if it has rained even just a little
  • Popular, can be busy on the paths
  • Some cycle paths, MTB paths and horse paths to watch out for

Location:

Vlasgat, Koedijk (Geestmerambacht)

Vlasgat is a part of the overall Geesmerambacht park where dogs are allowed off leash all year round. This area is only partially maintained on the walking paths but not in the dog sniffing areas and there is a lovely kind of wild feeling to the place, without it being too overgrown.

Park at the “Parkeerplaats: nabij Vlasgat (losloop gebied voor honden)”, as stated in Google Maps, which is on the crossing of Wagenweg and Groetpad. Walk away from the wooden bridge which crosses the canal and towards a large, yellow, concrete bridge, with the big mound to your left. To the left of this part is a big open play area, this is a leash free area and many people seem just stop at this. However, if you walk almost to the bridge and then turn left after the canal turns into a kind of small pond, you will find a pathway that leads you to the waterways and open areas that are a dog paradise. You can either walk directly after the canal turns to the left, and wind your way through the woody area and overgrown pathway until you get to the side of the canal, or you can walk just a little further to a paved path that runs along the back of the park, and take a left turn about 100m or so from here, this will meet the canal pathway but save you having to go through muddy woody areas if it has been raining a lot.

From there on, just follow your nose! It is an unmarked, circular route, walk as far as you can go and then go left, cross over the bike path, walk right up to the little white bridge at the end of the road, cross that bridge and then return to the car park at the top of the dyke. And if you feel adventurous, zig-zag around all the canals and waterways.

There are a couple of events here that you need to look out for, the Indian Summer Festival is held in the open area next to the dyke, and there is also a parcours event that takes place in the back of the park and although they don’t really interfere too much with the dog walking areas, you will find the parking full. Check the calendar for the events in this area.

There is one major bike path going through this area which can get pretty busy in summer, but you only need to cross over it, so not a big deal but do keep your dog close when you are walking near it, some of the cyclists here can be pretty speedy.

And of course there is so-oo much water, making this a haven for hot summers. The water seems to be clear all year, clear enough for people to fish in it. There is however, very little shade, so although your pup will be fabulously refreshed, you may need to take sunscreen and water for yourself!

The area is excellent if you want to avoid all other pups and just focus on training or solitary walks, and even if you do come across other dogs, the spaces are so wide you can easily avoid them, even up on the dyke.

In all you can walk about 45 minutes if you just go around the edge and of course you can shorten that if you need to, but you can also extend it by taking all the little extra paths, or walking over the wooden bridge and along the other side of the canal which can easily stretch it out to 1-1.5 hours.

When it is dog season, you can connect to the walk around the lake at Geestmerambacht (about 5km around) just by walking over the wooden bridge and then take one of the paths to the left, in total making this walk a good 2-2.5 hours.

Pros:

  • Lots of fresh water for hot days
  • Wide open areas
  • Not very busy, even at weekends

Cons:

  • No shade for people
  • No poop bins, even at the parking area
  • Busy bike path going through the park

Location:

Obdammerweel, Obdam

Although this is not an extensive walk, it is highly rewarding for pups, particularly in summer. The park goes about 2 thirds around a lake so it is not circular, but you don’t necessarily have to come back completely on the same path.

This park is not maintained really, there is a pathway towards the seating area near the lake that does seem to have some grass cutting, but the rest of the area is left to grow and bloom however it wants to, which is what makes it so great for dogs to sniff around in, and there are so many spaces where you can throw training dummies in the long grass for your pup to search for.

It is rather popular, also with some dog walkers or groups meeting up for lunchtime walks, so there are occasionally packs coming your way, but in most parts it’s wide enough to avoid them.

De Weel is a fantastic cooling off spot for hot summers, the lake is pretty much clean enough for dogs all year round, with a couple of sludgy areas in the forest part but nothing you can’t avoid. Your hot dog will have dunked himself about 5 times to cool off before you reach those areas…

Walk around the lake until the park branches off, to the left you have a tree area with 3 paths, one at the side of the lake, one through the middle and one maintained path following the canal on the outside. Follow either one to the end and then just pick a different one to come back. When you get back to the original path, ignore it and go straight on to the path that runs on the other side of the wooded area closer to the road, and follow it round to the beginning again. All in all, it’s a cosy little area.

There can be quite a lot of foxtail grasses so be careful in hot, dry summers where these large seeds can get stuck in your dogs nose and give you a good excuse to visit your friendly vet again…

Free parking bays are in front of the allotments on Dobber, about 500m walk from the park entrance. It looks like a cycle path but yes, you can drive there! Just put Dobber into your Navi and continue walking the direction you drove. Note, the only poop bin in the entire area is in this parking bay.

Pros:

  • Excellent summer cooling off spot
  • Unmaintained areas make for great snuffling experiences
  • Free parking

Cons:

  • Can get busy
  • No poop bins
  • Foxtail grasses in summer

Location:

Dunes, Egmond aan Zee

Egmond aan Zee is, like most of the beaches in the Netherlands, closed to dogs during the daytime in the summer months. However, you can still snap a little sea air in a section of the dunes adjacent to the beach.

The Dunes at Egmond aan Zee is surprisingly large, simply walking the perimeter will take you a good 45 minutes if you follow the fence line. Dogs are not allowed in the entire dunes area, the boundaries are marked with a regular wire fence, and where there are pathways that go outside this area, there are information boards showing you that’s as far as your dog goes. But this area is large enough for a decent stroll, if you zig-zag over the dunes in the middle you can easily add another half an hour to the perimeter tour. The parking nearby suggests this area is popular but I rarely see more than three or four other dogs being walked right into the dunes.

There are a number of garden allotments in the area, you can walk past them off leash but do keep your dog out of them, they are private grounds.

This is a true dune area, there are some plants and shrubs (including some heavenly scented rose shrubs) but only one small section with trees to speak of and very little shade. There is no really clean flowing water but a few large ditches fill up with water when it has rained enough and these can get a bit greasy looking after a while, so take some drinking water with you if it is hot.

The good thing about this area is, when it rains (and even if it rains for a whole month), because it’s predominantly a sandy ground it doesn’t get too boggy. Even if some of the allotments tend to get totally flooded, the surrounding ground drains pretty well.

The only poop bins are on the neighbouring streets rather than in the dunes directly. One is right on the corner of the dunes where the Boulevard meets Doctor Wiardi Beckmanlaan, the second is at the parking just off Doctor Wiardi Beckmanlaan close to Zwartendijk, and the third is at the end of a little pathway halfway around the dunes – there is a high open area with a seat on it, just to the side of this is a small pathway, and about 20m down is a poop bin/poop bag dispenser.

There are two parking areas, either directly on the Boulevard itself and walk into the dunes at the corner, or along the pathway at the side of the beach. I tend to park on the other side of the dunes in Doctor Wiardi Beckmanlaan, it often has spaces in summer even if the entire Boulevard is fully parked. There are parking fees in all areas in the summer months, but outside the summer period during the week, unless there is a special holiday or event, parking is usually free.

Pros:

  • Beach feeling in summer when the beach is closed to dogs
  • Not very busy, even in peak season
  • Wide open spaces to run or train in

Cons:

  • No clean water
  • Poop bins are few and far

Location:

De Hulk, Scharwoude

Who knew that the Hulk was Dutch! But joking aside, this is a lovely little park close to Hoorn, with waterways, sniffy grass routes, play areas and very few people, what more can you want?

Situated between a major road and the train line, De Hulk is a decent sized park with clearly marked pathways. There are two extra loops you can make to extend your walk and these are not paved or maintained in any way, so if you want to do this, then be prepared to fight space with brambles and nettles, and the occasional mud patch. Your dog however, will love you for making the effort.

There are two exits to walk in this car park. One is at the back on the left as you drive in, near the notice board and this just takes you to a camp site. The one you want is the long pathway on the right as you drive in. It’s a small parking space, probably maximum 20 cars so you can’t miss the path.

There is a right turn close after the first bridge, this takes you to a little dead end kind of picnic area that is just full of duck poop. I tend to ignore it but feel free to check it out.

To walk the perimeter, walk up to the bridge from the car park, then go to the open space on the right, follow the lake round until you meet a bike path. Go left along the bike path for a while until you get back into the footpath areas. After this it’s difficult to loose your way. If you want to avoid a bike path then just continue on the path from the car park.

Further along you will see an unpaved pathway to the right which does have grass mown (not the little one with the gate near the path, but just after that), it does not look like much but this is a nice little extension – you can weave in and out of these little parallel paths and then come back on yourself to carry on. It will add a good 15 minutes to your walk, more if you stop and sniff everything :). But it is not maintained, there are nettles and brambles to get caught up on.

Cross the larger bridge over the river/canal to the other side of the park, and walk all around it up to the main road, zig-zag a bit through the pathways in a big loop and when you come back to the bridge, instead of following the same paved pathway that you came on, go to the right and walk right next to the railway line. It’s a bit wild there but in summer they do cut the grass about twice in the year. I only ever met one other person on this side of the walk in the last year!

Before you go over the last bridge back to the car park, on your right is another little bridge taking you to a small island, it’s another little loop you can do to extend your walk. I usually take it, my dog seems to find it interesting enough.

If you add both loops you can extend the whole walk to a little over an hour before you run out of new paths to take. But the good thing is, if the weather is terrible you can cut this short easily and run back. Alternatively there are plenty of trees to shelter under…

Note there is only one bin for poop bags and that is right by the car park.

Free parking is at the Parkeerplaats aan de Zesstedenweg (1634) De Hulk, Zesstedenweg, Scharwoude.

Pros:

  • Free parking
  • Varied terrein, lots of interesting things to sniff and places to swim
  • Lots of space or detours to keep out of each others way

Cons:

  • No poop bins except at the car park
  • Can get pretty muddy on the unmaintained pathways
  • Water is prone to green algae in summer

Location:

Park van Luna, Alkmaar

Ever been to Alkmaar with visitors to see the cheese markets, or just to see a different town for a change? If you have taken your four legged friend with you, then why not give him a treat after hours of sight seeing, and take him to stretch his legs before you head back home.

Park van Luna is a huge area, however only about a quarter of it is an off-leash dog park. But it is enough space for a good hour run-around. The dog area is shared with a few mountain bike trails and a “disc golf” course, which looks more like frisbee throwing rather than actual golf! So if you want to treat your visitors (and your dog) to something a bit more unique, then check it out here: https://discgolfnoordholland.nl/home

If you are not inclined to be so sporty, then take a slow amble around the park instead. There are a few pathways crossing over each other that take you through lovely muddy and smelly spots for your hound to roll in. Some of it is wide open, there are shaded areas, and long grassy spots for a good sniff. There are about 3 reasonably sized ponds there that tend to dry out into sludge in the summer, and the rest of the water areas are really irrigation canals and not a through flowing water. But the ponds are clean enough to house frogs…

The park can get a little busy at the weekends but it’s spacious enough not to really get under each others feet. Walk around the perimeter of the park instead of sticking to the open play areas if you want to have a more solitary stroll. The canals around the edge of the park are a little cleaner for swimming and duck chasing.

In winter, if you do not stick to the paved or prepared paths, then the off-path areas can turn into an enormous mud pool, and you can find yourself ambling down what seems to be an okay path and suddenly you are almost knee deep in general wetness. Walk with wellies!

Parking is free next to the sports centre, and the foot path into the park starts right from that parking spot.

Pros:

  • Very clean park, lots of bins and the dog walkers there seem to be pretty good at picking up
  • Wide areas for running and ball chasing
  • Can duck out of the open spaces and into forest like areas for more sniffing

Cons:

  • Can get really water logged in winter
  • Shared with mountain bikers and frisbee throwers
  • Water areas potentially not really drinkable

Location:

Park 21 – Extended version, Zwaanshoek

I stumbled upon this hidden gem when the road to another area was closed for repairs, I drove on to find a spot to stop and figure out a different route and spotted a car park where two dog walking vans were parked and I thought to myself, this needs to be investigated. I’m glad I did!

The car park looks like a small parking spot in the middle of a field, you would not know what lays behind if you didn’t know. There is no name board so I do not know what this parking spot is called, but it is just off Spieringweg and pretty easy to find. (Enter the co-ordinates 52.30688, 4.615900 into Google maps).

The route follows the main road a little way, so I would not call it the quietest of routes, but you are far enough away from the road, making it safe enough for off-leash walking.

Follow the paths south in the little forest next to the N205, you can zig-zag around if you want to, there seems to be a range of paths I have not tried out yet, and some are almost not recognisable as paths but the walking signposts tell me they are… Aim for the Leendert van der Meulenbrug, this bridge goes over the N205 and into Park 21. There is a spot here where it is a paved cycle path but there are no cars, however, unless you have a perfect heel I would leash your pup here if I were you, just for a few minutes until you get back onto the muddy pathways and out the way of high speed cyclists.

I did not find any real water spots, there are bits and pieces here and there where canals have been dug out for irrigation but not really anywhere for your pup to swim or drink. Bring drinking water with you if it is hot.

When you reach Park 21, there are signs that dogs are not allowed in the recreational play area, but I have to confess I didn’t even find this forbidden spot, I think it is actually on the other side of the IJtoch, a canal that you don’t even need to cross on this walk. There is a circular pathway around the area, and one more parking spot directly on this route. So if you want to cut the walk short, you can park right by Park 21 and just do a short round. This parking for the short park walk is just off the roundabout by Nieuwebennebroekerweg/Deltaweg.

Pros:

  • Hardly any other dogs on the route from parking to Park 21
  • Extendable walk, make it as long or as short as you like
  • Lots of tree cover for sun shade or shelter from rain

Cons:

  • No real water areas, bring drinking water if the weather is hot
  • Park 21 can be busy with other dog walkers
  • Nearby road noise gets in the way of a quiet meditative walk

Location:
(note, this map is slightly off – parking is at the little dead-end road just at the start of the walking paths, Spieringweg 1109 is actually right opposite the parking spot, but I cannot make WordPress Maps any more accurate than this!)

Meester Enschedepark, Aerdenhout

Meester Enschedepark is a little hideaway on the road from Haarlem towards the dunes in Zandvoort, and is a section made available to the public at the bottom of the larger conservation area. This little park makes up for it’s lack of size by throwing you a tiny maze of pathways, all beautifully overgrown with natural ground, perfect for keeping your pups nose busy. Although it is essentially 3 loops combined, you have a feeling that it is larger than it actually is. In total you can expect to walk for about half an hour before all paths have been trodden at least once.

It is lovely and shaded but there is no watering hole, although for such a small area that will only be an issue on super hot days. There is also a small horse path and a couple of cycle paths weaving through the park.

During a lunchtime walk on a weekday, I think I met about 4 other dogs in total, and it’s easy to avoid them if your pup is not feeling playful today. However if he is feeling playful, there is a little sandy open area that is totally dug over from pups having a play date, not to mention other little open areas on the way that are big enough to play chase.

The park is situated directly next to the road and it is not fenced off and some of the paths that look like they are part of a loop actually end directly on the main road, keep your pup in view if he is prone to scooting off after squirrels.

Parking is limited, there are a couple of little bays on the side of the road big enough for about 3 or 4 cars each on Bentveldsweg and Meester H. Enschedeweg, where the largest park entrances are. The smaller entrances have no parking on them. I go by bakfiets.

It is one of those useful spots you need on your list where you can quickly take your pup out if you have no time or the weather is terrible.

Oh and look out for the fake tree…

Pros:

  • Not to busy for such a small and local area
  • Very natural landscape, feels bigger than it is
  • Shaded for hot weather

Cons:

  • Small area
  • Limited parking
  • No water

Location:

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.

Pros:

  • Free parking
  • Pretty much everything catered for in one area
  • Not very busy

Cons:

  • Shared with mountain bikers, need to be vigilant
  • Nothing else that I can think of…

Location:

Het Naaldenveld, Bentveld

This is a small area with a single pathway through the middle (there and back), which seems to be a bit of a walk-through for the local walkers and cyclists, but with a little creative zig-zagging it can be stretched out to a decent foraging walk if you go off the track a little. Being a very local forest in a built up area, it’s busy with both dog walkers, runners and kids. You will not be alone!

A few of the tracks we tried out ended up with a fence so we had to turn back, but we did manage to find a bit of a wandering path away from the main stretch that made the walk more interesting. Be prepared to clamber over blackberry bushes and thorny shrubs!

It’s all very overgrown away from the main path which makes it an excellent spot to practice hiding treat-filled dummies and sending your dog off on a search. The density of the trees makes for decent rain cover.

It is a very basic forest area, there is no water but plenty of shade for summer. Don’t expect an amazing vista or hike, this is a place where I would choose to do a search training, a snuffle walk or a quick round in the rain. These little spots are just as useful as the 2 hour hiking routes for just those reasons!

There is a parking spot just in front of the entrance to the forest area.

Pros:

  • Quick and easy round
  • Good for scent training or snuffle walks
  • Wild and unkept pathways is a treat to sniff in

Cons:

  • Small area
  • Paths away from the main route are not easy to see and some have dead-ends
  • Can be a little busy

Locaton:

Hulkensteijnsebos, Zeewolde

Hulkensteijnsebos is about a 25 minute drive from Almere, or 15 minutes from Zeewolde. It is a huge walking area with at least 2 off leash spots along the Slingerweg, which runs around the area.

The first thing we did was park near the camping/glamping site De Parel where an app told us we could start an off leash tour. However it led us into a field and a cafe, where the owner came out and informed us that the tour we were looking for was no longer there. Good start…

It seems there are only about 2 or 3 official entrances to the walking area, so as instructed by the cafe owner, we drove back up the road and found a small parking spot next to a bridge with a gate into the forest. It wasn’t so easy to find (none of the parking is signposted), you have to park up where you see a gate and check for the orange sign on the other side. There was no information at all regarding dogs on this board, so we made the decision for ourselves. There is apparently an official off leash area, I am not 100% sure if this was it, if anyone knows better then let me know!

This is not one of your tidy, easy to follow parks. Behind the gate there is a battered concrete pathway which simply takes you down a straight path to a road at the other end. Anything else off the concrete path and into the woody areas is not well walked, and in some spots it is a bit of a guessing game to know whether you really are on a pathway, but that just made it a very interesting sniffing ground for our four-legged companion!

We did not manage to find a circular route, at the end of one of the paths we came across a canal with no obvious way to continue. All in all we walked around the area for about an hour, but I am sure there are lots of other pathways you can take to extend this if you want to.

We went in August which should have been a busy time of year, but we didn’t see another soul in this area, neither dogs or people, making it very relaxed to wander around in.

There are no natural watering holes, so you do need to carry water for your pup if it is hot. But there is a lot of shade, so it was relatively cool when the rest of the country was blistering in the heat.

There are no bins anywhere for depositing rubbish or poop bags, you either carry poop back with you in the car, or – shudder – leave it where it was dropped.

In general, I found this a nice enough spot to walk around because I was in the area, but I would not make a special trip to go there.

Pros:

  • Wild environment, keeps little noses busy
  • Unpopular area, excellent if you just want a quiet walk
  • Shaded and cool for hot days

Cons:

  • Unclear where the dog areas and paths really are
  • No water spots
  • Not a very interesting place to walk for people

Location:

Purmerbos, Purmerend

Purmerbos is about a half hour drive either from Amsterdam or Alkmaar, and if you plan a day trip in the areas of Edam, Volendam or Hoorn, then this spot is an excellent waypoint to stretch your pups legs and give him a treat for being such a good pup whilst you do your sightseeing.

Purmerbos is nearly all an off leash area, there is a section just after you enter the park which is very clearly marked as a no-dog zone for kids to play in. There are also a couple of kiddy play areas including a slide and some kind of adventuring paraphernalia where dogs are not allowed, but fortunately the rest of this huge park can give you a very decent run around!

There are a lot of waterways or canals which paved pathways weave around, and if you want to get off the hardened tracks, you can zig-zag your way between these on trodden pathways and over the canals on a quiet and less busy route. It can get a bit boggy on these pathways after rain.

There are two circular routes that you can follow, and it is pretty well marked but these seem to be mostly paved pathways which can get busy, so we tend to focus on the paths through the forest instead.

There is an official dog pool not too far from the entrance, which seems to be a bit of a meeting point at the park and probably the cleanest water in the area, which is very useful if your pup went belly deep in mud… The rest of the waterways were a mixture of mud and something else just a little too murky for some proper swimming but fine for a quick paddle to cool off the feet.

It seems the park is designed so horses and people/dogs don’t share paths, at least that’s what the signs indicate. I did not spot any kind of fishing activities to sidestep, possibly the waterways are too shallow to stock anything worth fishing but I haven’t been in summer to verify this.

Free parking is available on the Parkeerplaats De Populier. There are a couple of other parking spots but this one is the biggest.

Pros:

  • Excellent location to tag onto major tourist site trips
  • Well marked routes
  • Good mix of water, open spaces, pathways, mud and critters

Cons:

  • Some of the water is a bit murky
  • Some kids and families on their way to play areas may not be dog compatible
  • Not many poop bins

Location:

Nimmerdor/Zandbergen, Amersfoort

Nimmerdor is a decent sized off leash park just south of Amersfoort. While I would not really make this park the main theme of a day trip, even from Amsterdam (where it is about a 45 minute drive), it is a worthwhile spot if you are in the area.

We have only visited this park in winter, so perhaps we have not seen it in its full glory, but it was a pleasant stroll nonetheless. I think we only strolled through about 3 quarters of the possible pathways in a loop and managed to walk just over 4km, and that’s without zig-zagging between pathways so you can easily extend or cut short this walk to suit you. The whole area is a leash-free zone.

It is quite a popular spot, but there are plenty of turns and wide areas to distance yourself from other dogs or people if you want to. The park is not fenced off and a couple of the entrances are quite close to the road.

There are no watering holes there, so take water with you if the weather is hot. Having said that, I am sure when all those trees are covered in leaves in summer there will be plenty of cool shade.

It actually took a bit of searching to find the little car park at the entrance of the park, it is just off Zandbergenlaan next to the church. Put Zandbergenlaan 42 in your GPS. You will see a sign pointing to the church parking (Parkeren Kerk), but the parking/park entrance you really want is right next to that sign on the left.

Pros:

  • Completely off leash area
  • Free parking
  • Lots of path choices

Cons:

  • No water areas
  • Probably quite busy in summer
  • Not easy to find!

Location:

‘t Leesten, Ugchelen

‘t Leesten is a park and restaurant area in the vast Hooge Veluwe National Park, just outside of Apeldoorn. Although it is not a massive area, it is probably the most well thought out dog area within a national park that we have found so far.

All walks start from the car park next to the restaurant/Info Centre (Bospaviljoen ‘t Leesten). There are two off-leash walks you can do, the dog losloopgebeit, which is a fenced-off area with a range of little paths running through the park, and you can probably cover the whole area in about 30-45 minutes. At the far end of this section you can leave the fenced-off area and follow a route called the Natte Neuzenroute (wet-nose route) which – providing you stick directly to the pathways, adds around an extra 3km to the route, however it is very clearly stated that you must keep your dog under control and not let him wander off the pathways. If you want to extend your walk even further then you can do so, but you must put your pup on a leash. All pathways are very clearly marked, there is no way you lose the way.

There is no water area as such, just a few large puddles because of the recent rainfall, so take water if the weather is warm as these are likely to dry out.

The area is about a 20 minute drive to the centre of Apeldoorn where you will find a lovely pedestrian zone with a whole host of lovely restaurants. Check out the dog friendly beer garden “De Graaf van Vlaanderen” close to the cinema car park…

Pros:

  • Lovely forest paths to snuffle around in
  • Fenced-off leash free zone
  • Restaurant and info centre next to the car park

Cons:

  • No water areas
  • Not all off-leash if you want to do a longer walk
  • If you take your dog outside the fenced-off area you must have your pup well under control

Location:

Bussloo

Situated just outside Apeldoorn, Bussloo is definitely not something close by. Bussloo is only dog-friendly between September and May, after which it is a haven for kids and families.

The whole area is a Leisurelands recreational area. There are about 4 car parks (fixed fee of €3 per day regardless of how long you stay), each of which has kids entertainment facilities close by, such as swings, football targets, water pumps on the water edge, sectioned off swimming areas and bathroom blocks. There are also several beach side cafes and restaurants, meaning you could spend the entire day here if you wanted to. There is also a proper mini golf course on one side of the lake and this is also a good place to park.

It is possible to walk around the entire lake, however there is a spa and wellness centre situated on one part of the waterfront, and you need to walk around that. Directly in front of the spa there is a road, a cycle path and a horse path (interestingly no footpath…) but once you are past it, it’s back to galloping along park pathways!

There are also plenty of open, grassy areas to run around in, some spots seem to be newly forested with young trees, and in some sections there are fixed bbq areas. Just watch out for the Naturistenstrand where, if warm enough, you may encounter one or two totally naked people. It’s just to one side of the Spa. There is a closed off section to the east which is fenced off with barbed wire, and it is not easy to see from a distance. If you see a wooden gate, just keep watch that your pup doesn’t go barrelling into it.

In all the walk around the lake is just short of 10km, but at the eastern end of the lake there is a bridge where you can reduce the walk by around 3km. With all our stops and starts it took us nearly 2.5 hours to walk round.

This was a pretty busy area, even off season and fairly chilly we did meet a lot of dogs, mostly close to the beach areas or car parks, but wander further afield and other people start to thin out.

Pros:

  • Very large area, great for a long walk
  • Lots of clean water – no need to carry bottles!
  • Toilet blocks and dog-friendly restaurants on the way

Cons:

  • Over one hour drive away from Haarlem
  • Dogs only allowed September through to May
  • Can be very busy

Location:

Schoorlse Duinen

Schoorl is a popular touristy area but the walks through the dunes there are lovely. To start with, there is a massive parking area (Parkeerterrein Hargen aan Zee) so no need to rush to get there before anyone else as with other popular dune areas. From 1 March to 1 September, dogs must be on leash in the entire park, but the rest of the year, dogs may run free pretty much over the whole park.

Keep a look out for a large conservation area not too far from the entrance from the parking where dogs are off limits all year. This is clearly separated with barbed wire and electric fences, so you will need to be careful when walking close to the fence.

Otherwise, you will find a lovely range of white sand dunes, mixed with forest areas, beautiful views and beach options. Pathways are a mixture of concrete paths, shared cycle paths and trodden winding routes through the trees and dunes. It is such a vast area, so if it was your intention to have a solo stroll out of the way of everyone, then it is very easy to avoid other people or dogs.

Somewhere in the middle of all this is a lovely cafe with an excellent outside area called Bospaviljoen de Berenkuil. It is of course very dog friendly and even has dog snacks on the menu. Very busy lunchtime in summer, but sadly closed in winter. If you manage to get there in a quieter part of the day then it’s a cosy little spot for taking a break.

There are a lot of horse pathways, and in 2025 there was a flurry of new posts marking new horse routes over the dunes, but they do not seem to be exclusive to horses. It is a popular horse riding area, which means you need to be on the lookout for fresh horse “snacks” left on the paths.

Schoorl is also a popular tourist spot for hikers and a weekend play area in the dunes for families with younger children, hence the summer ban on off leash dog walking, but if you do decide to visit in summer with your leash, then expect kids kicking footballs around, or playing very enthusiastically (i.e. sudden screams) in the dunes.

Pros:

  • Long, rambling walks with dunes, forest and beach in one area
  • Wide range of paths to choose from, make the walk as long or short as you like
  • Always able to find a quiet path or avoid

Cons:

  • No off leash walks in summer
  • Can be busy with horses
  • Watch out for electrified barbed wire fencing marking off-limit areas

Location:

Zandvoort Dunes

A lovely little all-round area with street parking directly next to the start of the dunes, a range of mini hills to climb, sand pits to fall into, mice to chase and a grassy, forest area at one end. If you feel so inclined you could even walk to the beach from here.

Park in one of the paid-parking bays on the Frans Zwaanstraat or the Cort van der Lindenstraat, or even in the De Zuid car park which is closer to the beach.

This is a fairly busy spot and also used by dog walkers with packs. Be prepared to meet at least 5 dogs close up and about twice that amount from a distance, if your dog is not social or is in a bad mood (it happens to the best of us…), then this is not the place to be. Having said that, there are so many pathways that you can easily change course and avoid oncoming traffic if your pup is in a huff.

I like the diversity of this place and my pup seems to really enjoy the things to sniff and the space to run, he really seems to skip around this park. There is a lovely little lake fairly close to the road which gets frequented by kids and bathers in summer but left to dogs and ducks once the weather cools down.

This is not a closed area, one complete side of this park is open to a road so if your pup tends to run far ahead, then don’t let him off until you are far back from the road. It’s basically a long, thin stretch of dunes running parallel to the road. If you zig-zag across the area you could stretch the duration of your walk to a good hour or so.

Pros:

  • Diverse scenery and smells
  • Multiple pathways to lengthen your walk
  • Not possible to get lost even if you have zero sense of direction!

Cons:

  • Busy area used for pack walkers
  • Open to a road

Location:

Wijk aan Zee / Velsen Noord

Just north of the canal and ferry port, Wijk aan Zee is quite a cute little town with a dunes area and dog beach. It’s skyline is dominated a little by Tata Steel’s smoking chimneys and in some spots you don’t really want to breath in deeply, however on the shoreline and looking in the right direction you could imagine it is not even there!

We parked at the Rijckert Aertszweg parking place and walked towards the Noord-Pier. Right next to this parking spot is an entrance to the dunes, and we took a long stroll through the dunes towards the canal, only to note on our way out that the gaps in the fence are probably not official… There are many signs all over saying no entry (Only visible from the outside and further down from our “entrance”!), however Google maps definitely shows this section as a dog area, and there are clear trodden pathways frequented by locals so we followed them, and it was lovely. We returned via the beach to make the most of the area.

Velsen Noord is the section adjacent to Wijk aan Zee, it runs right up to the canal. Walking along the beach through both sections takes about half an hour not including pooch playtimes. At Noord-Pier there are a few restaurants, and judging by the huge number of car parking spots on the road just behind, it is a popular place to be. Certainly it seemed busy enough even in these Corona times.

Hidden in the dunes are some bunkers, for those who follow the bunker trails. On the whole it is quite a bit busier than the beaches south of the canal, but if you feel like a change in direction for a day, it’s nice enough.

Pros:

  • Wide flat beach, lovely for running around
  • Interesting dunes nearby
  • Free parking

Cons:

  • Tata Steel’s proximity
  • Uncertainty over use of the dunes
  • Fairly busy beach even in winter

Location:

Hondenplons

On the very last day of the summer season, open-air pools open their gates to dogs. Each pool has a slightly different date but it is always on a weekend. This is a really fun event, with you participating in the action if you want to or (more to the point) if it is still warm enough! This is not just limited to Haarlem, as far as I know it occurs all over the Netherlands.

We go to the Houtvaart here in Haarlem where you can buy tickets online. Prices vary from what time you want to arrive, i.e, if you want to go earlier before the large crowds arrive then it is a couple of Euros more. Potentially you can also buy tickets at the gate but I think there is a limit to how many dogs can go in.

Of course if that date does not work for you then check out other participating swimming pools – just enter “Hondenplons” in your search engine.

So there is a fairly large gathering of dogs there, so of course this is only fun if your dog is nice and social. Oh and if you bring a toy, make sure that it floats before you throw it in the deep end. Don’t ask…

Bloemendaal aan Zee

Between 15th April and 1st October, dogs are only allowed on the beach between Bloemendaal aan Zee and Zandvoort before 9am and after 7pm. That means in summer, this is a lovely early morning walking spot, or a walk watching the sun go down, plus the photo opportunities are great! Coming by public transport is also a great option, take the bus into Bloemendaal, walk along the beach all the way to Zandvoort and then take the train home!

In winter of course the beach is lovely and deserted – when the temperature drops to below 10 degrees then it is mostly runners or people with dogs that frequent the sands.

Park on the Boulevard Barnaart, and in summer, parking is free before 8am and after 10pm. Click here for more parking information.

Pros:

  • It’s the beach!
  • Fantastic sunsets in the evening
  • Walk can be as long or short as you like

Cons:

  • Limited dog access in the summer

Location: