Slow travel in the Netherlands: guide to leisurely travel

Street scene in Ootmarsum, with clinkers and quiet street, Overijssel

The Netherlands is nearby

How to enjoy slow travel

The Netherlands is conveniently close by. But that doesn’t mean it is all the same. On the contrary. You will notice a change of pace as soon as you cross the border. Water, nature and small towns merge seamlessly here. You don't have to plan a big trip to really get away from it all. Relaxation often already starts on the journey - whether you’re on the train or driving along our dikes and scenic country roads. That might sound a bit dreamy and idyllic but travelling slower means you will have more time to really take in the landscape.

When haste is not a factor, simple moments such as a spontaneous stop at a terrace on the waterfront, a walk through the dunes, or the tranquility of a nature reserve automatically become a more conscious experience. In the Netherlands, such places are often surprisingly close by. It only takes a little over four hours to travel between the provinces of Groningen and Limburg, at opposite extremes of the country, while the three largest cities are within about eighty kilometres of each other. This makes unscheduled stops along the way suddenly very accessible as you are back where you started in no time.

Fewer plans, more experiences

Particularly outside the best-known cities you will have the time and space to really slow down. In the north of the Netherlands, such as in the provinces of Groningen and Drenthe, it's all about peace, space and long routes through nature. In the far south-west, Zeeland offers vast coastlines and small villages where the pace naturally slows down.

Because distances are relatively short in the Netherlands, travelling feels less like a planned itinerary and more like spontaneous discovery. You do not have to spend hours on the road to find yourself in a completely different environment. This makes travelling close to home accessible, flexible and surprisingly relaxing.

Spijkerbrug Middelburg with houses and boats

In the Netherlands, you don't have to choose between nature, culture or gastronomy. It’s all surprisingly close together. Have breakfast by the sea, stroll through a historic town later that day and then end the evening on a restaurant terrace amongst the trees. That's what makes the Netherlands ideally suited to slow travel.

The convenient Dutch public transport system gets you practically anywhere

Couple cycling through rural area and holding out hand

Cycling without haste

Enjoy our beautiful countryside

Between dikes and heathland

It just feels right to cycle when in the Netherlands. Not as some kind of sporting achievement, but as a relaxed way to enjoy the countryside. On safe and quiet cycle paths, you ride past heathlands, waterways, small villages and old fortified towns. You determine the pace along the way, with plenty of time for spontaneous stops.

A spot to stop and enjoy the countryside whilst cycling in Westerwolde, Groningen

For example, cycle routes in Brabant take you along monastery paths, the Dommelpad nature route and the landscapes of the Van Gogh National Park. And in Flevoland, the polder landscape alternates with tulip fields and the Veluwe Lake. Want a top tip? Flevoland is also home to the largest deciduous forest in the Netherlands: Horsterwold. So, two provinces, just a few hours apart, each offering a totally different experience. It is precisely this variety that makes cycling in the Netherlands relaxing yet pleasantly unpredictable.

Hosterworld Flevoland lopen met Konikpaarden Sabrina Gaudio

On the road without haste

Tijdens een zomerse dag fietsen in de omgeving van Cadzand

Zeeland is also a great place to experience how pleasant and refreshing slow travel can be. Cycling routes take you along dikes and past orchards, with lovely seaside views. The wind sets the pace, while small harbours and restaurant terraces along the way invite you to stop, stay the night and then continue your journey.

Further north, in the province of Groningen, quiet roads wind through open countryside. Once on your bike, you will pass farm shops, places that sell or use regional produce and small cafés where time seems to slow down. Here, cycling is mainly about enjoying the sights, tasting and being on the move.

Did you know?

The Netherlands has more bicycles than inhabitants? On average, 1.3 bicycles per person!

Just hop on and go

A lot of great cycling routes can be easily combined with travel by bus and train. Meaning your relaxed journey begins even before your feet touch the pedals. And one of the best parts? Although the Netherlands may have some hills and even the occasional mountain in Limburg and Gelderland, it is mostly flat and easy to cycle for people of all ages. Need a bit of extra pedal power? An e-bike is a great solution. Go to Fietsoplaadpunten.nl to find a handy list of places where you can easily charge your mode of transport.

Plan your route from charging station to charging station.

Walk slowly, see more

Step into our landscape

Walking gives you a different perspective of a landscape. Paths in Drenthe lead past forests, heathlands and ancient dolmens. It is a province where silence still feels truly silent and where you can sometimes go minutes without encountering anyone else. Done enough walking for the day? Then stay in a nature cabin in the forest - tranquillity at its best.

The Gelderland Veluwe region also invites you to take it easy. As you wander between the sand drifts, pine forests and open heathland and all you hear is birdsong carried on the breeze, you’ll naturally start to relax and unwind. And if you visit outside the high season, the Veluwe nature will truly show you its most tranquil side.

52 dolmens scattered throughout Drenthe

Dunes, hills and wellness

Nature and relaxation go hand in hand on the coast around Noordwijk. After a walk through the dunes, head to a wellness hotel, sauna or a terrace overlooking the sea. The fresh sea air and vast landscape ensure that even a short walk feels truly restful. And try experiencing the coast on a day with a brisk sea breeze too! This might sound less appealing, but it is precisely that fresh sea breeze that makes a walk along the beach extra special. Get a healthy dose of fresh air, feel the cool wind on your cheeks and then warm up in a cosy pub. You’ll appreciate a warm cup of coffee just that little bit extra!

At the same time, Limburg shows another very different side of the Netherlands. Here you walk or cycle through rolling countryside, past vineyards and small villages. On the so-called Parkstad Route you will find beautiful places like the Anstel Valley, the Emmapark and the Rietpad. Worked up an appetite after all these fantastic outings? Then try the local Zoervleis meat dish...

Discover walking routes in atmospheric Limburg

Unique spa accommodation in the countryside: Home of ANNA

Konga Float-vanuit-de-lucht-eilandaccommodatie-bij-Hemelum,Friesland-Merel Tuk

Water and freedom

Relax in and on the water

Slow down on our waters

Water has defined the landscape and pace of travel in the Netherlands for centuries. Rivers, lakes, coastlines and small harbours are often close together, and you’ll find yourself slowing down almost automatically to enjoy the scenery. Stop for a photo, unwind on a waterside terrace and then move on: it is precisely this relaxed rhythm that makes the Netherlands ideal for slow travel. Our country offers you the opportunity to cycle along more than 600 kilometres of coastline, with a beach pavilion, harbour or nature reserve never far away.

From Friesland to Limburg: you will experience the power of our water in every province. Take Zeeland, for example, where the sea, harbours and wide sandy beaches set the day’s rhythm. And you do not need to be an experienced water sports enthusiast to take to the water. Spend a leisurely afternoon stand-up paddle-boarding, boating or sailing, then enjoy a sumptuous dinner down the harbour in the evening. Being in Zeeland quickly feels like being on a luxury mini-holiday.

Water gives space

Head to Flevoland to experience a very different side of the Netherlands. This province was created by land reclamation and is therefore inextricably linked to water, with Schokland designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Large lakes, long shorelines and modern waterways define the view here. Electric sloops from providers such as Natural Yachts or Nautica Experience glide through the landscape almost without making a noise, making boating mainly about peace, space and relaxation.

Further south, the river Meuse meanders leisurely through Limburg. All along the river you will find small harbours, green riverbanks and terraces where people linger for lunch or a glass of local wine. This province offers the perfect mixture of nature, water and hospitality, while the gentle rhythm of the Meuse invites you to stay a little longer, for example in the provincial capital city of Maastricht.

Water also plays a leading role in the landscape further inland. In the Biesbosch National Park, you can sail silently past reed beds, narrow creeks and small islands where nature sets the pace. The area feels surprisingly quiet as birds fly overhead and the water gently glides past the boat. Precisely because everything moves slowly here, the landscape is given all the space it needs to really stand out.

All about the Biesbosch

Guest at eco-accommodation in the woodland garden of Terra Wolde, Zeewolde

Stay a while

Fun without watching the clock

Sleeping in the middle of nature

Vismarkt Dordrecht Nieuwe Haven Otto-e-Mezzo-terras aan de waterkant

Those who travel leisurely around the country will soon find that eating well almost automatically becomes part and parcel of the day. In the Netherlands, gastronomy is often not about loads of reservations or long evenings in Michelin-starred restaurants, but rather about accessible places where local produce, hospitality and tranquillity come together. A waterside terrace, lunch among the vineyards or a small village market make travelling at least as important as the destination itself. The trick here is to find the absolute gems. So, sit back and enjoy a great meal.

Hidden gems of Dutch gastronomy

That Burgundian bon vivant vibe plays a big role in Brabant. Here you take your time over coffee with a sweet treat, a long lunch, or dinner made with regional produce. Terraces and small restaurants have a relaxed atmosphere where no one seems to be in a hurry. That is precisely what makes the province fit so well within the delicious rhythms of our special country.

In Groningen, regional produce also tells a story about the landscape itself. Products from the Wadden Sea, local cheeses, beers and fish dishes show the region’s strong connection to the sea and nature. Small producers and makers often give a contemporary twist to traditional flavours, without losing the quiet character of the region. Want to rest after a great meal? Relax in one of the many fine accommodations: from nature cabins in Overijssel to lodges by the sea in Zeeland.

Sleep amidst the tranquillity of nature

Staying with the farmer in Frisian nature

Slow travel also involves a place where you can really relax. Holiday homes, nature cabins and small-scale accommodation in the middle of the countryside are scattered throughout the Netherlands, from north to south. You’ll wake up amongst the trees, hear birdsong instead of traffic and notice how natural silence can feel when there is no full schedule for the day.

Because everything is close by, staying longer feels quite natural. The trip does not have to end after a walk through the dunes, a bike ride along the water or an evening of delicious local food. Just spontaneously book another night! Because in our 'Slowlands', it's ultimately not about seeing as much as possible, but returning home with a clear, calm head... And maybe secretly already thinking about the next stay.

Slow travel in the Netherlands - Slow travel amid water and nature