Enjoy picturesque cycling routes and river landscapes? Book a holiday home in the Netherlands!

Do you want to truly relax during your holiday without traveling far? Consider a holiday home in the Netherlands if you're looking for a pleasant stay close to home! Almost everywhere you’ll find well-developed hiking and cycling networks, ranging from picturesque city routes in Friesland to unique coastal trails in Zeeland. In spring, the Betuwe transforms into a scenic blossom landscape, while in Drenthe every peace seeker will fall in love with the stream and heathland scenery of the Drentsche Aa. Whichever natural area you choose for your holiday, the Netherlands is a recreational paradise!

Discover Friesland from a holiday home in the Netherlands

Are you looking for relaxation on the water and want to cycle from one charming village to another? Then a holiday home in Friesland is a fantastic option! Stay, for instance, in the well-known town of Sneek with its photogenic water gate, and take a cycling trip along the many waterside villages. Head first to Workum to visit the alpaca farm and enjoy a walk along the old church path Tillefonne. Make a stop in Balk and relax on a terrace along the picturesque canal quay. Before returning to Sneek, the small town of Sloten is a must-see! Gabled houses, churches, and pollard willows frame the canal that connects to the Slotermeer lake.

Tip: after Workum, you’ll reach the coastal town of Hindeloopen. It’s a great place to go boating through the village, across the open waters of the IJsselmeer, or towards the Frisian lakes.

The stream landscape and forests of Drenthe

Experience the wilderness of the Drentsche Aa, where streams flow naturally through the landscape. Since the stream system has never been straightened, the groundwater level remains relatively high, which greatly benefits the local flora and fauna. The Drentsche Aa offers a beautiful mix of stream valleys and dry, wooded terrain—a variation that attracts many hikers. Explore the area by bike from Rolde and ride along lovely traditional villages and through untouched woodland filled with fens and heath. The boardwalk trails also invite you to walk, such as the one across the Dwingelderveld. Here you’ll encounter everything from forests to peat bogs and heathlands.

Visit the wildlife park Wildlands Emmen

A great reason to visit Drenthe with children is the zoo in Emmen—because it’s much more than a zoo! You can go on a safari in an open truck and imagine yourself in Africa among rhinos, giraffes, and lions. Or take the safari boat and admire hippos and elephants bathing in the ‘river’. All the while, you’ll feel like you’re in the jungle surrounded by exotic birds and swinging monkeys. Another highlight is the indoor garden with 20 species of butterflies!

Cycle along the meandering Vecht in Overijssel

Planning a cycling holiday from a holiday home in the Netherlands? Hop on your e-bike and follow the course of the Vecht! Cycle from the Hanseatic city of Zwolle through the beautiful rural landscape and take a break on the Vechtdijk near Dalfsen. Cross the river and enjoy a walk around Rechteren Castle. A small ferry will take you back to the right bank to continue toward the town of Ommen. Here, you can park your bike and relax on a terrace by the water. Just like in Dalfsen, you’ll find a castle on the southern bank—a stately mansion surrounded by a moat and a network of straight lanes. After a short stroll, you can continue walking toward the ‘Sahara of Ommen’, a sand dune area perfect for a cozy picnic.

Enjoy a beautiful spring holiday in the Linge region

Another river in the Netherlands that leads cyclists through a stunning landscape is the Linge. From the winding dikes, you’ll have views over a landscape filled with sights to see—windmills, church towers, and grazing horses and sheep on the dike slopes. In spring, a cycling route along the Betuwe’s river turns into a magnificent blossom trail. Several dike villages invite you for a stop, such as Rhenoy and Zoelen, where you can walk through the orchard of a castle. The picturesque village of Acquoy also catches the eye with its watermill, leaning church tower, and houses along the dike. You’ll also pass through larger towns like Gorinchem, where you can enjoy a walk along the fortress walls and have a drink on a canal-side terrace or the church square.

Zeeland: the province for beaches and charming towns

Spending your holiday in the Netherlands also means enjoying sun, sea, and sand! In Zeeland, you’ll find many wide beaches that are connected to beautiful natural areas. Walk, for example, along the beach of Oostkapelle and continue through the nature reserve Oranjezon. Various trails lead you through a diverse landscape of dune thickets, grasslands, and forests. On the fallow deer route, you might spot deer, while in the marshy dune valleys with small ponds, you’ll see grazing konik horses. As if nature and the beach weren’t enough, Zeeland also offers plenty of delightful towns that complete your holiday! Think of the lively harbor of Vlissingen with its lounge cafés along the boulevard and the bustling promenade square in the city center.

Also visit the much smaller town of Veere and enjoy its picturesque skyline from the city walls. Another VOC gem is Zierikzee, a place that strikes the perfect balance between small-town charm and a lively city center with cozy squares and a wide range of shops.

Holiday home Netherlands

For a truly relaxing holiday, a stay in a local accommodation is ideal! Enjoy a blossom route through the Betuwe, visit a pancake farm along the Linge with your family, or explore the unique nature along the coast of Zeeland. In Friesland, you can experience ultimate relaxation on the water and connect several villages into a looped cycling route. Want to venture into the wilderness? In Drenthe, hiking fun takes center stage at the Drentsche Aa! Looking for a highlight for young and old alike? Experience a safari tour through the ‘jungle’ of Wildlands Emmen from a holiday home in the Netherlands!