National parks

The Netherlands has beautiful national parks. You can find forests, water, dunes and heathland there and enjoy some peace and quiet. 

Forests and heathland 

The Netherlands has 21 national parks. There are also many other nature areas where you can go cycling, hiking and boating. The Netherlands offers a great deal of variety when it comes to nature. Forests and heathlands, for example, can be found in Nationaal Park de Hoge Veluwe (Gelderland) and Nationaal Park Dwingelderveld (Drenthe).  

Islands 

The Wadden Islands are located in the north of the Netherlands. Here you can find wide beaches and dunes. At low tide, you can walk across the mudflats: the seawater drains away and you can walk on the seabed. There are national parks on the islands of Texel and Schiermonnikoog. Beautiful dunes can also be found in Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland (North Holland). 

Water  

The Biesbosch (Brabant and South Holland) is an area with lots of water, marshes and small islands where you can go boating and bird-watching. Nationaal Park Oosterschelde (Zeeland) is also a beautiful place to visit. You can find find long beaches, polders and dykes there. What is known today as Nationaal Park Nieuw Land (Flevoland) used to be part of a sea: the Zuiderzee. It is now a place that is visited by large numbers of birds. 

Hills 

Although the Netherlands does not have any mountains, it does have some hills in South Limburg. These hills are not high but they are steep, and you can cycle and walk through villages and green valleys. You can also several national parks here, including Nationaal Park De Maasduinen.