From the Baarnse Bos to Amersfoort

Woods, country estates and vast polders. You can experience them with this beautiful route through the surroundings of Baarn and Amersfoort. Time left? Then visit Soestdijk Palace while you still can.

Old Soester dunes
From the Baarnse Bos you drive into the Laagte van Pijnenburg, a lower part of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug. The soil here is moister and richer than on the higher parts of the ridge, so there is more natural variation. In the Soesterduinen you will find a unique and ancient shifting dune area. A wonderful environment to relax and leave the hustle and bustle of everyday life behind.

Capital city of Amersfoort
On the outskirts of Amersfoort you make a stopover at Het Lokaal. You can go inside or on the terrace for a snack and drink. A little later you drive through the Eempolder, a peat meadow area along the river Eem. This was once a flood area of the Zuiderzee, now you can enjoy the silence and beautiful views. In Baarn you will pass places of interest such as old villas and the Pauluskerk, which dates from 1385.

Palace Soestdijk
Soestdijk Palace is located near the start and end point of the route. This palace was built around 1650 as a country residence for the Amsterdam merchant Cornelis de Graeff. The original country house probably forms the core of the current Soestdijk Palace. The palace has been expanded and renovated over time.

The building has been used by the royal family since 1815, with Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard as the last residents. The building is now owned by the Dutch State. Pending a new destination, the palace and garden are temporarily open to the public. So don't wait too long if you want to look around here again.