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- Beulakerwijde & Belterwijde (the big open lakes) — Wide, shallow lakes that break up the reeds and create dramatic open-water views. Great for spotting large flocks of ducks and gulls, for seeing waterlily fields in summer, and for calm boat trips where the sky feels huge compared to the tight canals.
- Kalenberg and the floating fens — A maze of narrow waterways, boardwalks and those surreal floating peat mats that give the area its boggy character. Short hiking loops here are simple but feel wild: expect reeds, dragonflies, and surprising pockets of open water dotted with lilies.
- Belt-Schutsloot (picturesque canal village) — Tiny wooden bridges, green shutters and slow canals that look straight out of a postcard. It’s not just pretty — walking or cycling through this village gives you
- Beulakerwijde & Belterwijde (the big open lakes) — Wide, shallow lakes that break up the reeds and create dramatic open-water views. Great for spotting large flocks of ducks and gulls, for seeing waterlily fields in summer, and for calm boat trips where the sky feels huge compared to the tight canals.
- Kalenberg and the floating fens — A maze of narrow waterways, boardwalks and those surreal floating peat mats that give the area its boggy character. Short hiking loops here are simple but feel wild: expect reeds, dragonflies, and surprising pockets of open water dotted with lilies.
- Belt-Schutsloot (picturesque canal village) — Tiny wooden bridges, green shutters and slow canals that look straight out of a postcard. It’s not just pretty — walking or cycling through this village gives you a real sense of how people have lived with and shaped the peat landscape for centuries.
- Birdlife hotspots (bitterns, marsh harriers, white-tailed eagles, etc.) — The reedbeds and open water support rare and exciting species. Bitterns booming at dawn, marsh harriers quartering the marshes, and increasingly the white-tailed eagle — bring binoculars and expect long, patient watching for the best payoff.
- Canoe and kayak routes through the reed maze — Paddling is the best way to feel the place: narrow channels, quiet corners full of bird calls, and sudden openings onto wide water. There are marked routes and rentals at Ossenzijl/Kalenberg. (Personal favorite — nothing beats drifting through reeds at sunrise.)
- Reed beds, peat-cutting heritage and meadow edges — The whole park is shaped by old peat extraction and reed harvesting; you can see the patchwork of tufty islands, canals and grazed meadows. It’s a living cultural landscape, which makes it interesting even if you’re into plants and geology more than birds.
- Observation towers and hides — Scattered lookouts give panorama over reed seas and lakes. Climb one at dawn or dusk for the light and the best chance to watch raptors and big waterbird flocks without disturbing them.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.