Get away from the bustle of the city and visit the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen nature reserve. This beautiful piece of nature is only a 30-minute drive away from Amsterdam near the coast between Zandvoort and Noordwijk. One minute you’re strolling through the green dune area, the next you’re on the beach. It is a lovely place to get some fresh air.
Nature
The variety of dunes also means a rich diversity of plants and animals. You can spot red deer, roe deer, foxes and rabbits between the trees, ponds and grasslands. This is also a great place for birdwatchers, as the area draws thousands of (water) birds. A few years ago sheep and cows were set loose to graze in the dunes.
Water abstraction
The name of the nature reserve, Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen, roughly translates as ‘Amsterdam water supply dunes’. A labyrinth of channels and gullies in the dunes serves to supply water intended for water abstraction.
If you want to visit the nature area, you are welcome from sunrise to sunset. The entrance fee is €1.50; a parking ticket costs €2. Dogs are not allowed in the nature reserve.