Name: Groenendaal Forest
Rating: 2

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Netherlands

North Holland

Heemstede

Groenendaal Forest

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Netherlands

North Holland

Heemstede

Groenendaal Forest

Recommended by 26 hikers

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Location: Heemstede, North Holland, Netherlands

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Best Hikes to Groenendaal Forest

4.0

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1. Low-threshold North Holland routes - Nature and culture in Groenendaal walking forest

3.46km

00:53

10m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

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2. The Groenendaal windmill – Groenendaal Forest loop from Heemstede

4.89km

01:14

10m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.8

(4)

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3. Leyduin Estate – Groenendaal Forest Park loop from Bennebroek

14.3km

03:37

20m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

Tips

Klaske Schep

November 13, 2023

Groenendaal walking forest is located on the edge of Heemstede and extends over more than 80 hectares. It's the perfect place for a relaxing stroll, whatever the season. In and around the forest you will find all kinds of nice facilities, such as a petting zoo, a playground and various places where you can eat and drink something tasty. It is simply a wonderful place to relax and enjoy nature.

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Vitavinas 🇪🇺 🇩🇪 🇳🇱

July 31, 2022

The history of Groenendaal dates back to 1634, a wandering forest in the northern Dutch municipality of Heemstede. The name Groenendaal probably referred to a piece of greenery in the middle of the bare dune floor.

The forests cover a total of around 80 hectares. The former Meer en Berg estate is now also part of the hiking forest. The park is home to large grazers, Scottish highland cattle, who are responsible for looking after the area.

As early as the 17th century, wealthy merchants settled in the area, which at that time still consisted of a number of individual estates. They initially bought the land as an investment; they made money from digging sand and the resulting bleaching fields. It was only in the 18th century that the desire for a country house to which one could retreat when the canals in the city (first Haarlem, later Amsterdam) began to stink in the summer arose. During this period of country house heyday, the famous garden at Hartekamp was laid out by George Clifford, and the Haarlemmerhout was replanted by Henry Hope.

Since 1767, the Groenendael estate has been owned by the Hope family, the well-known Amsterdam bank Hope & Co. In the time of John Hope (cousin of Henry Hope), the mills (windmill and later steam mill next door) were built and the ponds were dug.

There is almost absolute silence inside the forest. Only at the edges of the forest do the sounds of the road become louder again. Anyone looking for a place to retreat to in silence will certainly find it here. Beautiful natural hiking trails.

Source: nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groenendaal_(Heemstede)

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Barbara Galante

October 24, 2024

Beautiful walking area in the middle of North Holland!

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Elevation 0 m

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Sunday 21 September

15°C

11°C

10 %

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Max wind speed: 47.0 km/h

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Location: Heemstede, North Holland, Netherlands

Groenendaal Forest

1. Low-threshold North Holland routes - Nature and culture in Groenendaal walking forest

2. The Groenendaal windmill – Groenendaal Forest loop from Heemstede

3. Leyduin Estate – Groenendaal Forest Park loop from Bennebroek

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