Get a breath of fresh air at the North Sea

Get ready for a wonderful walk. This route leads you through the Schoorlse Duinen, one of the most beautiful dune areas in Europe. But you also cross the Hondsbossche Zeewering where you can enjoy beautiful views of land and sea.

The Wells
From the Hondsbossche Zeewering you have a panoramic view of the vast Harger and Pettemerpolder. The pattern of meadows and ditches that you see here has been there since the Middle Ages. In summer, blooming flowers provide a beautiful color palette. Especially on the water of De Putten you can spot birds such as avocets and redshanks, and in the autumn you can see spoonbills on their way to Africa.

Schoorl Dunes
The Schoorlse Duinen is the widest dune area in the Netherlands. A century ago there was still one large sandbox here. Now you walk through open drifting dunes, wet plains, dense forests and heathlands. In June and July, the many thousands of pine orchids bloom and form a white carpet. In autumn you will find more than 800 species of mushrooms here. Back at Strandpaviljoen Struin you can enjoy the sound of the surf with a drink and a snack.

Hondsbossche Zeewering
On the Hondsbossche Zeewering you can get a breath of fresh air and gaze over land and sea with the sound of the surf in the background. In the Middle Ages, the dunes here were almost a kilometer further west than the current sea wall. The Elisabeth Flood in 1421 washed away that strip of dunes, after which a centuries-long battle against the sea began. Finally, in 1880, the sea wall, which has been in its current location since the end of the eighteenth century, was significantly strengthened. The marram grass vegetation on the slope on the sea side was replaced by a cover of basalt blocks. This intervention finally made the Hondsbossche Zeewering resistant to heavy storms. The sea defenses were further strengthened between 2013 and 2015, including by enlarging the beach and dune area on the sea side. This new area has been named the Hondsbossche Duinen. Would you like to see more of this beautiful area? Then also cycle route 134445.

Explanation of route
oStart from Struin and walk south towards the lagoon.
oAfter the lagoon you can leave the beach at Hargen and walk towards the large parking lot.
o You can enter the dune again at the back of the parking lot. When entering the dune, take the first path to the left. On your right you will see an open stretch of sand dune.
oTurn left at the end of this path.
oAs soon as you get back to the Hargerzeeweg, turn right. Then walk straight into the forest.
oWhen you reach the Groeterkuil, go up to the right. You then continue to the viewpoint.
oFrom the viewpoint you can go down the stairs. When you arrive at the bottom, turn left, after which you turn right again at the T-junction on the Hargerzeeweg towards the Heereweg.
oOnce you have arrived on the Heereweg, you can turn right at the Bokkesprong towards the polder.
oYou walk into the polder at the Jaagkade. After the farm, turn left onto the Kleiweg.
oThen turn right on the Houtendijk.
oContinue until you come across the mustard road. Then turn left towards the Hondsbossche dijk. You then walk across the Kamperkade.
oCross the road and the dike and walk back over the dunes to the south, towards Struin.