National Park Zuid-Kennemerland

Luxurious country estates

In the 17th century, wealthy Amsterdam merchants invested in country estates to escape the stinking city during the summer months. South Kennemerland quickly became a popular region for a country estate due to its beautiful nature and clear dune water. In addition to the rich cultural history of the estates, you will find special trees and plants there, such as the stinzenplanten that transform the ground into a sea of colorful flowers in spring. Birds like the nuthatch feel at home here, as do several bat colonies.

At Estate Elswout in Overveen, you can walk through the different landscape styles that were typical of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The nearly 400-year-old estate is perhaps the most beautiful and best-preserved in the Netherlands. But the estates Duin en Kruidberg and Koningshof are also more than worth a visit. Choose one of the walking routes, go back in time, and be amazed by the special nature in an enchanting landscape.

Rare encounters in the dunes

Parnassia flowers bloom, small pearl-bordered fritillaries flutter, vineyard snails hide, and nightingales and woodlarks sing there. In the dune valleys and dune grasslands live rare plants and animals. During your walk, you might just have an encounter with one of the large grazers. Think of Scottish Highlanders, konik horses, roe deer, and fallow deer. The wisents, also known as European bison, roam the Kraansvlak. Do you want to see the animal with your own eyes? Then join an organized walk with the forester where you hear everything about this area and the endangered wisent. Walk on your own to the wisent viewpoint or follow the yellow route (open from September to March). 

Blowing Dunes

Through regular human intervention, space is created for a dynamic dune landscape that constantly changes in appearance under the influence of the wind. For this reason, five wind slots have been dug in the sea belt. The influence of the wind causes the dunes to literally move. Plant species such as marram grass, sea spurge, sand tulip, dune star moss, and the dune violet grow there. Further inland, you will find species like the small pearl-bordered fritillary, the false tiger beetle, and the sand lizard. When the sand stops blowing, a rich humus layer is formed in the soil from dying plant material on which many plants and animals can develop. 

Anyone who wants to experience the blowing dunes themselves can follow a short or long walking route from the Parnassia parking area. Guided walks are also regularly organized, and 'The Blowing Dunes Booklet,' containing more information and a beautiful walking route, is available at the Visitor Center De Kennemerduinen.