Through the Kennemer dunes

The cycle route starts right on the beach! If that isn't a relaxing start to your bike ride!

The Zuid-Kennemerland National Park through which you will cycle today is approximately 38 km² in size and is located between Zandvoort and IJmuiden. It is a special landscape that you will not find anywhere else in the Netherlands. Due to the salty influences of the sea, the fresh water in the dunes themselves and the sandy subsoil, you will find rare vegetation here. Until the beginning of this millennium, water was extracted from the dunes, causing the area to dry out. Fortunately, this water extraction has ended and the Kennemer dunes have recovered strongly. As the dunes become wetter, more and more special plant species appear, such as the beautiful, white-flowering parnassia. The restaurant at the starting point takes its name from this species that was still very common in the 1950s and 1960s. Plants that like brackish water, such as sea bindweed, sea thistle and various orchids, can also be found in the Kennemer dunes. The fauna in the National Park is also special. More than a hundred bird species, deer, roe deer, rabbits, butterflies, but also koniks (wild horses), Shetland ponies and Scottish Highlanders live in the extensive forest and dune area. The only Dutch herd of wisents, the European bison, also grazes part of the park. It is therefore more than enjoyment during this route, on delightful cycle paths right through the area. Along the way you can make a stop at one of the many spectacular viewpoints, bird hides or picnic tables.

A little over half of the route you will pass the De Kennemerduinen visitor center (formerly the De Zandwaaier dune center) located on the Zeeweg at the entrance to Koevlak. The center can be visited free of charge and you will find extensive information about the National Park, there are changing exhibitions and there is a Duincafé with an organic menu. The center is located in a sustainable dune farm. This is built after the example of a dune farm from the 7th century. There are all kinds of recreational play options for children around the nearby water't Wed.

The valuable Zuid-Kennemerland nature reserve is also important for cultural history. Former estates, bunkers from the Second World War and archaeological finds are reminders of earlier times. Halfway along the Zeeweg, when you have left the visitor center behind, you can take a side road to visit the impressive Erebegraafplaats Bloemendaal with the graves of hundreds of resistance fighters. A sad detail from the Second World War is that the dunes were often used for the liquidation of resistance fighters. After you have possibly taken in this piece of history, you slowly cycle back to the starting point. Here you can enjoy the sea view for a while.