The holidays are approaching, and in this article I will share with you 12 fun and mostly outdoor activities to try this summer in the Netherlands. I chose lots of walking options, plus a few other typical Dutch things we Dutch people like to do. I hope you enjoy! I’m wishing you a great summer!
1. NS Wandeling. If you don’t have a car but do have an OV-chipkaart, you can easily take the train and find walking routes that start and end at a train station.
2. Fancy more city walks and learning about history? Walk The City is an app available in four languages. Choose from many cities in the Netherlands and get guided along the most important historical sites. Another interesting app, specifically about the story of the Netherlands, is the Podwalk ‘Het verhaal van Nederland’ (also available as an online documentary series at NPO).
3. When the tide is low, you can actually walk between -or to- one of the Wadden Islands in the north of the country. This is called Wadlopen, and you’ll find all the information here.
4. A recent trend is walking barefoot, and throughout the Netherlands there are actual barefoot-only paths! It’s a bit silly (since of course you can walk other paths barefoot too), but at least on these routes people won’t give you strange looks.
5. Walk and get lost in a maze - not just for children! There’s a big one outdoors in Ruurlo, Gelderland (the biggest hedge maze in Europe). If it’s rainy you can check out the Doloris Maze in either Tilburg or Utrecht (very Alice in Wonderland).
6. If you like animals but don’t have dogs to walk with, you can take a walk with alpacas or visit farms where you can hug cows. Available on different farms throughout the Netherlands for example: KnuffelKoe enzo near Utrecht.
7. Every year there is a very popular 4-day walking event in Nijmegen called the Nijmeegse Vierdaagse, held this year from 15 to 18 July. If walking isn’t your thing, just being there to support (or party) is also part of the experience!
8. Walk around outdoor museums such as Archeon, the Zuiderzeemuseum, or the Openluchtmuseum, and experience how life in the Netherlands used to be.
9. Not such a big fan of walking? How about exploring the country by bike? In Nationaal Park De Hoge Veluwe, you can ride the iconic white bikes for free, or simply check out this app or website to find the most beautiful bike routes nearby - also available by theme.
10. During summer, small villages in Zeeland host street fairs (braderie) and traditional events like ringrijden - a unique horseback sport where riders try to spear a ring at full gallop. These villages become very gezellig places to be - more local and typically Dutch you won’t find! Here you can find out exactly where and when to catch these events this summer in Zeeland.
11. Mini-golf is not really a Dutch thing, but definitely something we like to do! You can find it in many places, and it’s a lot of fun.
12. The Netherlands has more than 200 (!) wellness centres, both small and large, spread throughout the country. Spend the full day enjoying different saunas, swimming pools, and relaxing outdoor areas with lakes and beautiful scenery. Dutch people aren’t shy about nudity, but every centre has bathing suit days too.