People with disabilities should be able to participate fully and equally in society, just like everyone else. This includes experiencing nature. Unfortunately, this is not yet possible everywhere. The national parks and site management organizations want to maintain and preferably expand their offerings. For the week of accessibility from October 6 to 12, we have collected routes and other facilities for people with disabilities in national parks.

Physical accessibility means that people with disabilities can move freely and independently without being dependent on others. This involves comfortable, flat, and paved routes without obstacles or barriers, such as narrow turnstiles or crossings, and with rest points along the way. In national parks, routes are often recognizable as family trails.

Routes, paths, and facilities for people with disabilities

Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide 

In Grenspark Kalmhoutse Heide, there are two marked and semi-paved paths suitable for wheelchair users and strollers. More information about these paths and other facilities for people with disabilities can be found on this page. Barrier-free enjoyment - Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide
The Vlinder trail is fully designed for people with visual impairments. With the Vlinder app, the blind and visually impaired can follow the route while receiving explanations about nature and history. More information about this trail can be found here. 

Nationaal Park de Meinweg

In Nationaal Park de Meinweg, the family trail of approximately 2 km is accessible for people in wheelchairs. You make a short loop through the heathlands of this park in Central Limburg.
More information about the family trail can be found here. 

Nationaal Park Dwingelderveld

In Nationaal Park Dwingelderveld, there are two family trails for visitors with limited mobility or those who want to visit the area with a stroller or buggy. 
There is a family trail of 2.6 kilometers that starts at the Orientation Center Spier. This path is particularly suitable for people with disabilities and walkers with limited mobility. Visitors with a mobile disability can also use the family trail of about 3 kilometers at the sheepfold at Achter 't Zaand near Lhee.
More information about facilities for the disabled in this national park can be found here. 

Nationaal Park Drents-Friese Wold 

Nationaal Park Drents-Friese Wold (and surroundings) has 3 family trails. One trail starts at the visitor center Terwisscha. This is also equipped with a braille sign and guidance for the blind. A second trail starts on the Boerestreek in Appelscha over the Bosberg. The third path is located on the grounds of the Vledderhof.
At both the Visitor Center Terwisscha and in Ruinen, the play nature is also suitable for children in wheelchairs.
See more information on this page.

Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe 

The Landscapes Path is a wheelchair-accessible route of 4.1 kilometers in Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe. The cultural-historical route leads past various highlights of the park, such as the Kröller-Müller Museum, the French Mountain, and the expansive plains of the Pampelse Zand. Along the way, there are two picnic spots accessible for people in wheelchairs. You can also leave the path at two places to visit a wildlife observation point. The route starts at the Museonder. For more information about this route, visit this page. The Experience Route is also intended for people with intellectual disabilities.

Nationaal Park De Maasduinen

Nationaal Park De Maasduinen has, at Eendenmeer, an accessible route of about 3 km, at Reindermeer an accessible route of 2.5 km, and at the Hamert an accessible route.
The route around the Leukermeer of 6 km is also suitable for people with disabilities but is not specifically designated as such.
The routes suitable for wheelchair users are indicated on the map on the website of the national park  

Nationaal Park Oosterschelde

For people who are in a wheelchair or otherwise physically limited, Nationaal Park Oosterschelde offers the following tips:

  • On Neeltje Jans, there is a wheelchair path of about 500 meters. The path is fully paved and goes along the info dune. Parking is available at the small parking area on Faelweg on Neeltje Jans (right at the bottom of the exit. At the T-junction, turn right, 1st road right).
  • Wheelchair-friendly birdwatching? On www.visdief.nl you will find the most beautiful wheelchair-friendly bird areas in Zeeland.
  • A seal safari is possible with tour boats de Frisia (Zierikzee and Sint-Annaland harbor) and De MS Onrust (Burghsluis harbor).
  • A visit to the Flood Museum is also possible. The entire museum and the immediate surroundings can be experienced and discovered. Also, take a look at the Oosterschelde. Nearby is a museum dyke, with dyke protection through the ages – information signs provide explanations.

In Nationaal Park Oosterschelde, the nature tours are accessible for people with disabilities.

Nationaal Park Utrechtse Heuvelrug

The Nature Without Barriers Route leads through the nature reserve Leersumse Veld with its drifting sands, fens, heath, and free-roaming Piedmontese cattle. The route is about 3.5 kilometers long. More information about the route can be found here.
The paved route Kaapse Bossen in Doorn of about 1.7 kilometers starts at Chalet Helenaheuvel, Sint Helenalaan 2, 3941 EH Doorn. You can recognize the route by the wheelchair symbol. The route description with a map can be found here. 
The route Landgoed Broekhuizen in Leersum of approximately 2.6 kilometers is suitable for people with disabilities and also for the blind and visually impaired. The route starts at the parking area with info panel on the Broekhuizerlaan in Leersum. More information can be found here. 
An overview of all accessible routes in Nationaal Park Utrechtse Heuvelrug is on this page. 

Nationaal Park Weerribben-Wieden

All visitor centers in Nationaal Park Weerribben-Wieden have facilities for people with a (mobility) disability. For example, the Outdoor Center Weerribben in Ossenzijl has a 'sensory trail'. This short walk over a boardwalk has interactive objects specifically for people with disabilities, such as the blind, deaf, and wheelchair users.
In the park, the following wheelchair-accessible viewpoints are available:

  • Observation wall Lokkenpolder (Weerribben)
  • Viewing platform at Zuideindigerwijde (Wieden near Giethoorn)
  • Observation point over 'De Holken' at Visitor Center de Wieden

More information about the possibilities for people with disabilities in the park can be found here.

Nationaal Park Lauwersmeer

In Nationaal Park Lauwersmeer, there are beautiful wide concrete cycling paths, which are also suitable for wheelchairs due to their width of 1.20 meters. 
A description of the Wheelchair Route Ballastplaatbos of approximately 3 kilometers can be found here. 
A description of the wheelchair route from the Booze Wijf of about 3 kilometers can be found here. 
Other information about the possibilities for people with disabilities in the park can be found here.