The Brede Duinenroute is a 35-kilometre cycle route through the beautiful dune and forest area of the Schoorlse Duinen, once awarded the title of most beautiful cycle route in the Netherlands. The route starts in the artists' village of Bergen and leads past museums, nature reserves and picturesque villages as far as Schoorl.
Starting point in an artists' village
The route begins in Bergen, an atmospheric village between forest and dunes, close to the coast. The filtered light falling through the trees and the leafy avenues have attracted many artists over the years, who enjoyed settling here and still do. Bergen is rich in hospitality venues, shops and galleries, with Museum Kranenburgh as one of the highlights: this museum displays its own collection of art from the twentieth century, rooted in the history of the famous Bergense School.
Dunes, colony houses and de Kerf
Along the way, the route passes Bezoekerscentrum De Schaapskooi of PWN, from where a beautiful walk leads into the Noordhollands Duinreservaat. On the coast lie former colony houses, built to accommodate city children with weaker health. At De Kerf, a hole was dug in the first row of dunes in 1997, so that during a storm, seawater can flow into the dune valley behind it: a special example of active nature restoration.
From Groet to the klimduin in Schoorl
The route continues through the picturesque village of Groet, with its small church on a mound in the middle of the village, where markets are held on Monday evenings in the summer. Just before Schoorl, the route passes Buitencentrum Schoorlse Duinen. Schoorl itself is known for its quiet location in the greenery and the famous klimduin, where children can run up and down to their heart's content while parents enjoy themselves on a terrace at its foot.