North Holland Trail

For a long time, Wieringen was the smallest Wadden Island, about ten kilometers long and two to three kilometers wide. After the closure of sea inlets, the reclamation of the Wieringermeer, and the construction of the Afsluitdijk, the island became encapsulated within the mainland.

The second stage of the North Holland Trail starts in De Waal, the smallest village on Texel with fewer than 300 inhabitants. It used to be situated by the sea. The draining of the Waal en Burg polder meant that De Waal now lies on the border between the old and new land of Texel. In this picturesque village, you will find a friendly atmosphere, narrow streets, old cottages, and farms.

Den Helder is located at the very tip of the northernmost point of North Holland. You can easily spend a whole day at this most important naval base in the Netherlands. The history here dates back to Napoleon, who had four large forts built just before he was exiled to Elba. You can still visit this Den Helder Defence Line.

Lisse has the reputation, but the largest fields of flower bulbs are located in the northernmost part of North Holland. Spring is a beautiful time to explore this stage. Some farmers have opened their paths to walkers. Consequently, the North Holland Trail runs straight through the bulb fields.

This stage is the shortest of the North Holland Trail. From Wieringerwaard—a typical North Holland village with a white church, monumental farmhouses, and a 50-meter-high old water tower—it is only 10 kilometers to Kolhorn, an old fishing village that used to lie on the Zuiderzee. Here, you are constantly on the border between old and new land.

With this stage, we make a brief leap to the other end of North Holland. To Den Oever, where the Afsluitdijk is located—the dike between North Holland and Friesland that separates the IJsselmeer from the Wadden Sea. Here, you walk straight across the former island of Wieringen, with its quintessential Dutch nature and panoramic views.

From De Haukes, you walk back to Kolhorn, which is an important junction in the upper part of the Noord-Hollandpad. However, it would be a shame not to incorporate the special atmosphere of the former island of Wieringen into the Noord-Hollandpad. That is why a branch (stages 6 and 7) runs here to and from Kolhorn.

Kolhorn lies amidst the meadows. If you look closely at the picturesque location of this small village behind the dike, you can easily imagine that Kolhorn used to be situated on the Zuiderzee. Since the land reclamation, the former fishing village lies in the heart of the West Frisian landscape and has a protected village appearance.

This short but exhilarating stage is a mix of pleasant, quiet country lanes and unpaved church paths, of straight canals and winding ditches, peat meadows and grassy dikes with plenty of stiles. And of windmills, for here you are surrounded by many reclaimed lands where, in the 17th century, entire windmill parks created new land. You walk below sea level in this region, hence the name Laag-Holland (Low Holland).

This stage also offers plenty of variety. Here you walk through the Land of Leeghwater. As the Dutch, we are proud of the technical knowledge with which we do battle with the water. The polders of De Beemster and De Schermer, drained during the Golden Age, are fine examples of this. Along the way, therefore, you will encounter many straight roads, ditches, canals, and typical Dutch skies. Additionally, it is a stage passing through many village centers with cozy places to eat and drink.

For bird lovers, this is an ideal stage. It runs straight through one of the most bird-rich parts of North Holland. The pools along the route are often bustling with activity, and in winter, thousands of wigeon sometimes fly over. It is fortunate that the stage is not too long. Now you have plenty of time to spot the meadow birds at your leisure and to enjoy the scenery, because even if you are not here for the birds, it is a pleasant walk.

This long stage—25 km is no small feat—is one of extremes. Here, you encounter not only grassy dikes, shell paths, and narrow dike roads, but you also walk through the prehistoric Oer-IJ, past remnants of the Amsterdam Defence Line and the North Sea Canal. And if that isn't enough, this stage takes you right into the heart of the Randstad, with planes flying to and from Schiphol overhead.

You might not realize it immediately, but with this stage, you are actually walking along the southern borders of the big city of Amsterdam. It used to be busy around Halfweg, but peace returns now as you pass through the Tuinen van West and Lutkemeerpark. It is also lovely to walk on the grassy dike along the ring canal of the Haarlemmermeer. The planes are still there, but Amsterdam also has plenty of greenery, and this walking route to Ouderkerk aan de Amstel proves it. City and nature alternate continuously.

Stage 14, one of the longer stages of the North Holland Trail, is located in the heart of the Green Heart of the Netherlands. Do not set off too late, as you will need your time. The route not only passes straight through one of the busiest areas of the Netherlands—which you won't notice at all, by the way—but there is also plenty to see and discover along the way.

This stage is never boring. To start with, in Abcoude you can choose the new route to Nederhorst den Berg or the old route via Baambrugge and Vreeland. Both routes take you to the Ankeveense Plassen. Along the way, you will encounter all sorts of things: winding rivers, a brand-new cycle bridge, cozy terraces, a ferry, and yes, it is true, you will also walk through the province of Utrecht for a brief moment.

You have arrived at the final stage of the North Holland Trail. Or the first, if you are walking the route from south to north. In both cases, it is a milestone: you have almost made it, or you are at the beginning, ready to discover something new. The walk from 's-Graveland to Huizen is special in any case. Here, there are no Dutch polders, but shady forests and rolling heathlands in the middle of 't Gooi. With the Tafelberg as the literal summit.