Bakkum, Limmen, Egmond and Heiloo

Cycle straight through the North Holland Dune Reserve and explore the area that is used for drinking water extraction in three places. The northern part of the dunes run from the Schoorlse Duinen to Egmond aan Zee. In this part, lime-poor sand gradually changes to calcareous sand in the south. This is reflected in the vegetation, which is gradually becoming greener. In the middle part of the area the dunes are high and rugged. Dune tops here are up to 30 meters high! The southern part has two infiltration areas and more trees grow on this part of the dunes. There is a lookout tower that offers you a beautiful panorama. It is striking that in the western part of the dune area the vegetation is significantly more difficult than further inland. This is due to the salty air that is brought in from the sea. Thickets and bushes grow slowly here. Helmet, Sea Bindweed and the rare blue sea thistle can withstand salt and wind and you will still find them here, while parnassia, marsh helleborine and water mint grow in the valleys. More inland you will see more and more sea buckthorn, grosbeak, wild privet and blackberry bushes.