Category: Hour+ Walks

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:

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:

Krantje Lek & Dunes, Haarlem

Along the Duinlustweg towards Elswout, unless you knew it, you wouldn’t believe that there is an entrance to the dunes here. Directly behind the Krantje Lek restaurant is the start of the cycle path that goes all the way to Zandvoort!

If you go up the sandbank on the left, past the little kiddies play area, there is a pathway that runs next to the fence parallel to the cycle path that you can let your pup sniff and play without risk of running in front of a high speed cyclist. There are sections where the two paths cross and it is definitely best to hold onto your pup here, people with serious bikes tend to fly along this path, but if you keep going parallel to the pathway / railway track, eventually you can cross underneath the railwaytrack and get into wider dune space.

There is a watering hole but it is not after about 45 minutes walking into the dunes – bring water on a hot day!

Park either in the Krantje Lek car park or alongside the road nearby. However if you are going to use the restaurant car park, it’s only fair you stop there and have a really tasty lunch after your walk!

Pros:

  • Variable routes as long or short as you like
  • Great, dog-friendly restaurant for after walk snacks!
  • Plenty of areas here and there

Cons:

  • Fast cycle path which gets busy in summer/weekends
  • Limited water spots

Location:

Molenplas, Meerwijkplas, Poelbroek

Situated between Schalkwijk and Vijvhuizen, the large Molenplas and Meerwijkplas lakes. This route winds around both lakes and takes you along a canal lined with some impressive houseboats. There are plenty of open spaces to run around in, and a range of pathways that give you some opportunity of random strolling.

Park at the car park by the De Molenplas restaurant, go over the white bridge and walk through the gate directly afterwards on your right. You can follow this path along the canal, after which it will take you to a series of pathways through semi covered tree spots or open fields, and winding round the water all the way. Note – this restaurant is popular in summer because of the outdoor area, which makes parking difficult at times. Try to aim for walks before lunchtime if it is sunny out there.

You can walk all the way up to Poelbroek where there are some nice little pathways to meander along and you can also find a large hedge-maze to play hide and seek in! You can walk in a full loop taking the path at the north of the lakes, but I usually do not usually do that since the north side of Meerwijkplas is a wide cycle path where you need to either leash your pup or be constantly on watch so he doesn’t get in the way of anyone. So I walk to Poelbroek and then loop back the way I came.

The best thing about this place is it is full of watering holes so perfect for hot days. It has lots of tall grass and reeds to hide in and there are obviously mice and little critters to sniff out – and a lot of pheasants! Resting spots are dotted along the way for us slow humans to sit and watch the ducks.

There are a few fishing spots here and there but really not that many and easy to avoid and on the whole, it is very clean here.

Pros:

  • Variable distance options depending on your mood/weather/etc
  • Lots of drinkable water
  • No horses!

Cons:

  • Parking can be very, very busy in summer
  • Some narrow paths
  • Mosquito haven

Location:

Noordwijk Dunes and Beach

Noordwijk is a lovely mixture of dunes, forest walks and beach in the area. It is an extensive area but since 2022, dogs are only allowed off leash year round in the southernmost part of the park. There is also a section of the beach where you can walk with your dog off-leash all year round, and this spot is pretty much opposite the off leash zone of the forest/dune area, making it easy to combine both into one walk.

There is a parking spot near the beach at the northern part of the dog beach, (Google: Kon. Astrid Boulevard 51, 2202 BD Noordwijk), close to the 101 Beach club. You can walk along the beach here and also enter the dunes at the southernmost point of the parking area. Alternatively park at the Parking de Noordduinen (Noordduinseweg 3, 2221 BL Katwijk aan Zee) which is right at the bottom of the park.

Unfortunately apart from the beach itself, there are no watering holes for drinking or cooling down, so do remember to pack plenty of drinking water for both you and your pup on a hot day. Restaurants on the beach provide refilling opportunities.

You can still walk the entire park if you want to, albeit with your pup leashed.

Pros:

  • Varied landscapes/smells
  • Restaurants on the beach or near the end of the walk

Cons:

  • Difficult parking if you arrive lunchtime
  • No drinking water

Location:

Spaarnwoude/Houtrak

Houtrak is part of the vast Spaarnwoude network of recreational parks and is situated roughly halfway between Amsterdam and Haarlem. It is a popular place for picnickers, fishers, horse riders and, of course, dog walkers. That in mind, the park tries to provide a little for everyone.

A large part of the park is an off-leash area but some of the open fields are off limits to allow picnickers and BBQers to eat in peace. In summer, a lot of the waterways will be dotted with people settled for a days worth of fishing.

There are several paths to follow, some shared with cyclists but many that weave through forest growth. A large water area with a small beach is great for swimming and playing. It is one of those spots where you can weave around aimlessly for a good hour without noticing that you got lost 15 minutes ago…

Check summer events before setting off, sometimes there are music events which means half the park will be closed off.

The absence of public toilets does mean the fishers tend to use the bushes, if your pup finds human poop a delicacy then perhaps avoid this park in summer. Winter is lovely here when all areas are open to dogs and the number of unwanted distractions are much lower.

Parking can be found at the Park & Ride at the train station Halfweg-Zwanenburg, or one of the larger parking bays is near the Europarcs on Zuiderweg, just off the Wethouder van Essenweg. Follow the signs for the Coffee Jeep – a handy little mobile coffee wagon with very tasty coffee and cakes which can be found in the parking area until around 3pm.

Pros

  • Large area for off leash running
  • Close to train station
  • Water and shaded areas for hot days

Cons

  • Can be very busy in summer with people fishing and BBQing
  • Holds the current record for number of different types of poop found laying around in one day

Where is it?

Parnassia Beach

You can’t live in North Holland and not love the beach! Parnassia is the closest spot to Haarlem where dogs are allowed all year round. The edge of the beach is lined with dunes which give your pup something different to sniff on your way back home.

Because it is a dog area there tends to be slightly less people on it, and of course the further away you are from the parking areas and restaurants, the less people you will encounter who are sunbathing or picnicking.

You can walk all the way from Parnassia to IJmuiden, where you will find a lovely dog-friendly cafe/restaurant Paviljoen Noordzee. Technically the nudist beaches are not off-leash areas but I have never had anyone stop me. Keep to the shore line and you won’t even notice the areas to avoid.

This is a very clean beach, with bins dotted along the way for you to deposit poop bags. Let’s keep it clean!

Watch out for a land surfing school close to the restaurants, they can be pretty fast and you really do not want to get in their way!

Horses tend to gallop along the beach now and then, of course leaving their horse-potatoes behind them, but as for things lying around that can find their way into your pups mouth, apart from horse poop and jellyfish I tend to let him have his pickings. Nothing wrong with a little (sort of) fresh crab now and then…

Pros:

  • Choose between playing in the sea or playing in the dunes
  • Lots of space to play with / avoid other dogs
  • Dog-friendly cafes

Cons:

  • People…

Location:

Toolenburgergplas, Hoofddoorp

When we decided to check this place out, we originally thought it would be full of kids playing and screaming, and would find itself on our list of places to avoid. We were very pleasantly proven wrong! Toolenburgerplas is a large lake surrounded by park grounds. You can just walk around the lake which is around 3km or so. Or you can extend it a little and weave your way through the neighbouring walking paths, keeping out of the way of cyclists and giving your pup something more interesting to sniff.

The park is very well maintained, most paths are covered in gravel and the leash on/leash off areas are pretty well marked or even fenced off. Over half the lake edge is accessible for dogs.

Even in high summer on school holidays, the kids are only really playing in the enclosures where there are beaches and play areas that are off limits to dogs, but you can just walk past these on the pathways, leaving the dog walking paths surprisingly empty. I tend to walk first on the pathways nearest the road, these are all fenced off from the road and run between the trees, out of the way of kids play areas and the cycle path. In spring time there are some fabulous wild flowers and tall grasses on the banks next to the road. The leash free pathways end at a point near a basketball pitch and here is where I turn back and walk right alongside the water edge back to the parking, so it’s almost a circular route. Well, a banana shaped circular route… 🙂

For some reason there are probably more frogs per square meter than any other place in The Netherlands! They are the small black and green frogs and in the canals towards the road end of the park, they have such a chorus that you can’t hear yourself!

There is a large car park just off the Ijweg, close to the Long Island Restaurant. The leash free pathways can be accessed directly from this car park.

Pros:

  • Very clean area, clearly marked on or off leash areas
  • Clean lake water
  • Varied, fun to walk around

Cons:

  • Nothing I can think of…

Location:

Dunes – Bloemendaal/Zandvoort Circuit

The Bloemendaal dunes are part of the Zuid-Kennemerland Dunes and the dog section is a large area of rugged sand-scapes and beach grasses, with large water areas – depending on how much it has rained lately. If it is windy on the beach then the dunes offer more shelter and it is lovely to scale one of the peaks and look over the whole park.

Some sections of this area is covered with gorse or sanddoorn bushes which can give you a decent scratch if you are not careful, so either stick to the wider paths or wear long trousers!

Near the watering hole there are some open areas to have a good run around, and in some spots amongst the hills and dales there are open areas that look a little like abandoned agricultural spots. In fact I have seen some people doing some kind of allotment farming there. These are private areas so just walk around them.

At some point you will likely meet the cycle path that links Haarlem with Zandvoort and in summer this can be busy, but you can pretty much keep away from it, it just runs along one side of the dog area. There are a couple of horse paths in this area as well, I have never seen horses walking there but have seen their leftovers. You can also expect the occasional 10-dog-pack walker now and then but even if you do, it’s the dunes, just walk over a hill if you want to avoid them.

Depending on the time of year you can expect rabbits and an array of little critters that live in holes in the sand. I have seen foxes there too. These are mostly confined to the areas with dense shrubbery. Most of the area is fenced but in some areas that fencing is a bit leaky. I have personally never seen deer in this part of the dunes but I would not guarantee their absence.

This area borders the F1 circuit, in fact turn right after the entrance and keep close to the edge of the dunes and you can look down onto the racing track. When there are practices or test drives, it can be really noisy here. And of course if there is a real F1 event then you can forget any attempt to drive even close to this location, in fact avoid anything within a 15km radius of the circuit during race weekends and go somewhere quieter instead. We have a few alternatives in these pages for you 🙂

The easiest spot to park is on the Boulevard Barnaart, on the beach front and right next to Bernie’s Beach club – there is a sign for it in the parking area. The entrance to the dunes is directly opposite this spot. You can also take the 81 bus here, bus stop Zandvoort Riche.

Pros:

  • Huge area
  • Clean water
  • Amazing views
  • Low amount of people, even in summer or weekend

Cons:

  • The F1 circuit
  • No bins for used poop bags until back at the parking bays
  • In hot summers the water can dry out and you are limited to just one pool

Location:

Schoteroog, Waarderpolder (Spaarnwoude Park)

Another one of those places that you can make your walk as long or as short as you like. Schoteroog used to be a landfill that got cleaned up and turned into a park and is popular with sunbathers and picnickers. Every now and then there are children events near the water but you can walk the upper path and avoid them if you want to. Right alongside the Mooie Nel lake which links up with the Spaarne, it is also a bit of a boating paradise.

The park has a range of paths that run through the open, rolling fields, and one bike path along the side of the lake. It also has a footpath connection with Verplas which also forms part of the Windmill Route. As you reach the end of the park furthest away from the Marina, you can turn left and simply follow the path past the horse stables, cross the road at the windmill and carry on along the canal to the Verplas carpark (only open to dogs October-April). I usually stop at the windmill and then turn back, which gives me a good hour walk in total. Schoteroog park can get a little busy with sunbathers – particularly at the weekend but the path between Schoteroog and Verplas is hardly ever frequented and is a real scent bonanza for pups!

The park is not fenced but there is only one side really that is not contained by water or some kind of physical barrier, and if you keep to the open fields it’s fairly safe if you have a young pup still learning to keep close.

Parking spots are at the side of the road near one of the stairways that bring you to the upper part of the park, or a large car park by the marina close to the (dog friendly) Proef restaurant.

Pros:

  • Wide open fields to run and keep watch on your pup
  • Some quiet spots where you can train
  • Not overly busy with dog walkers and easy to avoid others if you want to

Cons:

  • Horse paths can leave unexpected treats
  • Can get some ripe air near the water purification centre, or near the horse stables but it’s short lived
  • Can get pretty windy up there!

Location:

Groene Weelde, Vijvhuizen

About a 20 minute drive away from Haarlem, the Groene Weelde park is probably one of my favourites. It is a large park, completely off leash, with a maze of pathways or off-beat paths, waterways and beaches, open spaces and curiosities to interest the two-legged walkers.

You can make this walk as long or short as you like. I have seen some people simply walk around the lake at the beginning, which takes about 20 minutes if you walk slowly. I think the longest I have managed to walk through the park is for 2 hours.

There is one small pathway (probably about 500m long) that runs alongside the golf course and near a waterway where birds settle and breed, and you are requested to put your dog on leash for this part, but that is the only spot that asks for a leash.

There are a couple of cycle paths that go through the park, one wide one where you can also expect scooters and the occasional car. Mostly the drivers are sensible but you will get the occasional idiot.

There are two parking areas, one is next to the Pannenkoeken Paviljoen, and the other is at the complete opposite end of the park near the golf course. Or you can take the bus 340 from Haarlem Station which stops pretty much on the corner by the Pannenkoeken Paviljoen. There is a big, beige, stone waterdrop artwork on the side of the road just in front of the park, you can’t miss it!

Look out for crayfish in the waterways and sometimes on the nearby banks…

Pros:

  • Huge off leash area
  • Range of area types
  • Enough space to avoid pack walkers

Cons:

  • Some large pack with varying degrees of control over their pack
  • Horse paths throughout the park leaving horse-potatoes
  • Prone to vivid green algae in summer

Location:

Groenendaal, Heemstede

A favourite place for many walkers, dog walkers and families. This is a fairly busy park offering wide pathways, lots of water areas, a beach and lots of shade from either sun or rain. You can wander aimlessly here, doubling back or going off on parallel paths, or you can follow one of the marked routes. However because it is so popular, this place is only really fun if your dog is well socialised and has a reasonable recall in the case of unwanted or inappropriate play, especially with children around.

You can park directly opposite the Pannekoekenhuis Konijnenberg, just drive up through the gates of the park driveway to get to the parking spot. There is a gated entrance to this park, but technically it is not completely fenced off. To the right of the entrance is a cycle path and further right of that cycle path is a leash-only area. There is no fence containing your pup at this point but elsewhere it is either fenced or has a natural water barrier.

There is a field opposite the beach area where cows are kept. Sometimes (although rarely) you may see some wandering around between the walking areas. If you see fresh cow poop on the floor, you know you need to keep an eye out for them.

There are two beaches here, the most popular one is in the middle of the park and is a popular spot for people to sit and chat while their dogs play. Join in or avoid it, there is a pathway just at the back of the beach that takes you out of their way if you need a quick exit. There is a smaller and lesser used beach closer to the road if you walk towards the scouting hut.

Somewhere loosely in the middle of the park is a large circular sand pit, which is a great place to let your dog dig without wrecking the landscape. I have never seen kids playing in this.

Do walk right around the park, up the lesser trodden slopes that barely look like footpaths, over all the wooden bridges for some lovely views, through the muddy paths that go round the duckweed filled ponds and try to cover every possible pathway and this will take you out of the busy areas or to high up spots where you can look over the park. If you do that, you will manage a good hour walking, otherwise it’s about a 40 minute circular round.

Mostly all the water here is clean, just a little muddy here and there. It seems to be flowing and connected so it doesn’t seem to be affected much by algae in summer. That bright green duckweed in the ponds here is perfectly edible, even by humans. Tastes a bit like cress…

Pros:

  • Varied area with lots to sniff
  • Lots of clean water
  • Shade and cover from the elements

Cons:

  • Can be very busy, especially at weekends
  • There be cows…

Location:

Brouwerskolkpark, Overveen

A wonderful little spot on the border of Haarlem and Overveen, I don’t know why you don’t see more people here. The park spans the Brouwerskolkweg and offers hills, trees, pathways, sandy spots and a perfectly swimmable lake. There is one cycle path through the area which you can easily avoid if you want to. You can make your walk more interesting by looping through the trees and shrubbery to the side of the paths.

There is a lookout area which is often used as a party spot, keep an eye out for broken glass there.

The Brouwerskolkje restaurant is a lovely spot for lunch and does allow dogs on the terrace, however it’s not your usual walkers cafe, it is actually quite a prestigious restaurant!

You can park at the Brouwerskolkje restaurant, or a little further up the road near the Terrerodeweg just before the railway line.

Pros:

  • Quiet, mostly no cyclists, very few walkers
  • Lots of walking options, can make it very short or long and varied
  • Clean water

Cons:

  • Trying to think of one…

Location: