pinterest pin De Mooiste Plekken in Nederland in De Herfst

“The Beginning is the End and End is the Beginning!”

I've always been intrigued by the fascinating season of autumn. To me, autumn is a grand manifestation of the ultimate reality on earth that one day everything has to perish just to be reborn again. And as the tree leaves turn into vibrant shades of orange, yellow, and red, one last time before they return to Mother Nature, the mushrooms start emerging, chestnuts lay all around, and soft rays of the sun kiss your face while you take a leisurely walk on the rustling dry leaves, autumn shows us that the end can also be beautiful. And during this beautiful season in the Netherlands, what are the things you can see and do? That's precisely what I'm going to tell you today. So let's begin!

Best things to See and Do in Herfst (Autumn in Dutch) in the Netherlands

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1. Visit The Heather Fields of Veluwezoom National Park

The heather bloom marks the advent of autumn in the Netherlands. And the best place to witness it is the Veluwezoom National Park. Veluwezoom, the first National Park in the Netherlands, is a hilly terrain comprising heathlands and sand dunes. During early autumn (late August), the blooming heathers turn the place into a purple wonderland which's best viewed from the 90 m high hill of Posbank.

To know more about Veluwezoom National Park and how to visit it, please read our article The Purple Hills of Posbank | The Heather Fields of Veluwezoom National Park, Hoge Veluwe, Gelderland | The Best Place to See Heather Bloom in the Netherlands, and if you want to explore more such hidden gems in the Netherlands, please read our article Netherlands Off The Beaten Track | 39 Best Hidden Gems in the Netherlands.

Heather Fields of Veluwezoom National Park rheden gelderland netherlands

boy reading book in Heather Fields of Veluwezoom National Park rheden gelderland netherlands

woman standing in Heather Fields of Veluwezoom National Park rheden gelderland netherlands

man standing with arms stretched in Heather Fields of Veluwezoom National Park rheden gelderland netherlands

2. Walk or Cycle through the Dutch Forests and National Parks

To appreciate the fall color in its truest essence, it is best to take a leisurely stroll or follow a biking trail through the winding lanes of the Dutch forests and the national parks, thereby relaxing, playing, and contemplating in the lap of nature. Though you can do that in any forest in your neighborhood, below are my top 5 places to wander during the autumn where I feel the manifestation of the fall is the best -

Hoge Veluwe National Park, Otterlo, Gelderland
Twickelerbos, Delden, Overijssel
Wechelerveld, Schalkhaar, Overijssel
Clingendael Estate, Den Haag, Zuid-Holland (which houses the famous Japanese Garden open for only a couple of months a year during spring and autumn) - Please read the article Landgoed Clingendael en Japanse Tuin in Den Haag | Clingendael Country Estate Park and Japanese Garden in The Hague, the Netherlands for more details about the place
Amsterdamse Bos, Amstelveen, Noord-Holland

autumn red leaves in the forests of landgoed twickel twickelvaart twente netherlands

boy throwing dry leaves during autumn netherlands

woman sitting on dry leaves during autumn netherlands

woman sitting on log during autumn the netherlands

man walking on dry leaves during autumn netherlands

man standing on dry leaves during autumn netherlands

man with mercedes car standing on dry leaves during autumn netherlands

3. Go Fruit Picking at Olmenhorst Estate

Another fun thing to do during autumn is fruit picking, mainly apples, and pears. Though there are several small farms scattered across the Netherlands where you could pick fruits, I always opt for ‘Landgoed de Olmenhorst’ in Lisserbroek, a half-hour drive from Amsterdam. With endless trees adorned with bright red apples and lush green pears, it is the largest fruit picking orchard in the Netherlands. The self-picking season starts from the second week of September and lasts until the end of October. You may have to reserve a slot for self-picking before your visit. For more information please visit olmenhorst.nl

boy walking on dry leaves with basket of picked apples during autumn netherlands

boy sitting on dry leaves with basket of picked apples during autumn netherlands

boy standing and looking at dry leaves during autumn netherlands

4. Go Mushroom Hunting

The fall is the season when various colorful mushrooms adorn the forest floors providing you with an excellent opportunity to photograph them. Do not pluck the mushrooms without permission, as it is prohibited by the government in many places. Also, do not try to eat them without prior knowledge, as many may be inedible and even poisonous. Though you may find mushrooms in almost all corners of the Netherlands, my top 5 locations for abundant mushroom hunting are -

De Kranenkamp, Schalkhaar, Overijssel - Park at a small parking place with GPS Coordinates 52.299111° N, 6.193861° E, and walk between the streets Averlose Houtweg & Raalterweg
All across Kaapse Bossen, Utrechtse Heuvelrug, Utrecht
Forest surrounding the Pyramid of Austerlitz, Utrecht - Please read the article Monument De Pyramide van Austerlitz | The Dutch Pyramid of Austerlitz located in Woudenberg (Utrecht), the Netherlands for more details about the place
Twickelerbos and Landgoed Twickel, Delden, Overijssel
Landgoed Oostermaet, Lettele, Overijssel

red pink mushroom during fall autumn netherlands holland

yellow brown mushroom during fall autumn netherlands holland

white mushroom during fall autumn netherlands holland

white ice cream shaped mushroom during fall autumn netherlands holland

yellow brown mushroom on wooden log during fall autumn netherlands holland

purple mushroom during fall autumn netherlands holland

white ring shaped mushroom during fall autumn netherlands holland

white sphagetti shaped mushroom during fall autumn netherlands holland

grey shoe shaped mushroom during fall autumn netherlands holland

yellow brown orange mushroom during fall autumn netherlands holland

lady standing in front of red pink mushroom during fall autumn netherlands holland

5. Celebrate Halloween

As Vincent van Gogh portrayed around 150 years back, the Dutch are known as ‘Potato Eaters’ and not ‘Pumpkin Carvers.’ Despite that, horrors from the American tradition are slowly creeping eastwards into the Dutch culture. Since the last decade, Halloween parties have been popping up, Dutch stores have started selling ghastly orange zombies, buff superheroes, or sultry villain costumes, and even trick-or-treaters are seen to hit the streets (including my son). So, where to find the best Halloween events in the country? Here is my list of top Halloween parties across the Netherlands -

Superheroes vs. Villains, Sugar Factory, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland
Amsterdam Halloween, WesterUnie, Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland
Fright Nights, Walibi World amusement park, Biddingshuizen, Flevoland
Crazy Sexy Cool Halloween, Zuiderpark Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland
Haunted Castle, Keukenhof Castle, Lisse, Noord-Holland
Family Halloween celebration at Center Parcs across the country

Note: All of these parties may not be going through this year. So please consult their websites for the dates and timings.

portrait of boy standing wearing pumpkin head mask with orange cape holding hammer during halloween in autumn fall netherlands

man walking holding sword and wearing v for vendetta mask at halloween during fall autumn in netherlands

man standing holding sword and wearing v for vendetta mask at halloween during fall autumn in netherlands

man pointing sword at camera and wearing v for vendetta mask at halloween during fall autumn in netherlands

Visiting the Netherlands

Best Time to Visit: The best seasons to travel to the Netherlands are spring (April to May) when tulips are in full bloom and early fall (September to October) when beautiful fall colors are everywhere. The weather is mild and pleasant during these times, and the crowds are generally smaller compared to the peak summer season (June to August).

Number of Days to Stay: Seven to ten days are perfect for touring the Netherlands. This allows you to visit major cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague, as well as explore smaller towns and attractions such as Utrecht, Haarlem, Maastricht, and the tulip fields. It also gives you time to experience the Dutch countryside and iconic windmills.

Best Place to Stay: Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is a great place to start your Dutch exploration. It has a large selection of accommodation options, ranging from high-end hotels to inexpensive hostels. Major attractions in the city include the Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House, and the Van Gogh Museum. For those seeking a more contemporary urban experience, Rotterdam is a fantastic choice because of its modern architecture and vibrant cultural scene. Additionally, it is a significant transportation hub that facilitates travel around the country. Den Haag (The Hague) which is the seat of the Dutch government and the International Court of Justice, is home to many historical landmarks, museums, and beaches. For those who like to avoid the bustle of the bigger cities, Utrecht is a wonderful option because of its convenient central location and quaint medieval old town. It has excellent train connections to various regions of the nation.

Best Way to Arrive: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, one of Europe's busiest airports, serves as the primary international entry point into the Netherlands. It is connected to numerous international destinations. The Netherlands has excellent train connections to its surrounding nations. Amsterdam is connected to cities like Brussels, Paris, London, and Berlin via international trains like Thalys, Eurostar, and ICE. Numerous international bus companies, including FlixBus, run services from different European cities to the Netherlands. You can also drive to the Netherlands by car, especially if you want to explore the surrounding regions. There is a vast road network throughout the nation, and airports and major cities offer car rental services.

Best Local Mode of Conveyance: The Netherlands has a first-grade public transportation system consisting of buses, trains, trams, metros, and ferries. A contactless smart card called the OV-chipkaart is used to board all public transportation. Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) runs the trains, which are the most convenient means of transportation between cities. In addition to ridesharing services like Uber, taxis are accessible in all major cities. The Netherlands is well-known for its cycling culture, featuring bike-friendly infrastructure and designated bike lanes all around the nation. Cities in the Netherlands are very walkable, especially the central areas of Amsterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague. In cities like Amsterdam, canal boats are a popular way to see the city from a different perspective. Various companies offer canal cruises and water taxis.

Epilogue

So those were the best things to see and do during autumn in the Netherlands. Please let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed reading this article. And until we meet next time, I wish you merry traveling and happy shooting!