The 10 most beautiful hiking trails in the Netherlands

In our search for the most beautiful hiking trails in the Netherlands, we found 10 routes you really ought to try. And, for your convenience, these trails are all located close to a Stayokay hostel!

(Header image: Sjoerd Bracke & Cuno de Bruin)

This varied 15-kilometre walking route takes you through the beautiful forests of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National park. Thanks to its central location, the area is easily accessible by car and public transport. Along the way, you will walk along sandy and forest paths and pass a monument commemorating none other than Napoleon.

Starting at € 1.50, you can enjoy a whole day in the Amsterdamse Waterleiding­duinen. This natural park contains many beautiful hiking trails. The distances vary from 4 km to no less than 30 km. In this beautiful area, you can walk through woods, dunes, and hills. There's even a good chance that you'll meet fallow deer along the way! Walking in the Amsterdamse Water­leiding­­duinen park is relaxing and provides the ultimate self-care moment.

The Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park is one of the largest forest areas of the Netherlands. It will therefore not surprise you that the most beautiful Dutch walking routes can be found here! Our favourite is the Highlight route.

This route is 9.4 km long and, as the name suggests, takes you past all the highlights. You'll pass all kinds of special objects such as the Doornse Kei and the Stenen Tafel, but you can also climb to the heights of Watchtower the Kaap! Walking on the Utrechtse Heuvelrug is great all year round. But in springtime, when everything starts to blossom and grow, even more so!

If you're looking for a challenging hike, the Ranger Trail Noordsvaarder on Terschelling is the perfect trail for you. The route alone is 11 km long, and the climbs are also not for everyone. But if you're up to the challenge, it's well worth it. On the route, you'll encounter beach plains, wildly overgrown dunes, and beautiful view­points over the North Sea. With a little luck you might even spot a seal! This is certainly one of the most beautiful walking trails in the Netherlands. Combine the walk with a stay at Stayokay Terschelling, and relax here after a tiring journey.

This walking trail is a so-called NS route. This means that the trail takes you from one NS station to another. This makes it easy to catch a train back to the starting point. The walking route takes you through the hilly Onzalige Bosschen, the beautiful heathland near the Posbank and the Zijpenberg. One by one breath­taking pieces of nature. There's a reason this trail is often labelled the most beautiful walking route in the Netherlands. The hiking trails are close to Stayokay Arnhem. Distances: Dieren-Rheden: 11 km and Dieren-Velp: 14 km.

Fancy a walk full of variety? The Kromme Rijn route is one of the most beautiful walking routes in the province of Utrecht. It is a 29 km walk along the Kromme Rijn river and the route passes the New Dutch Waterline, as well as cherry orchards, historic castles and country estates! Put on your walking shoes and discover what makes this route so special!

Complete your day with an overnight stay at Stayokay Bunnik.

On the outskirts of Apeldoorn are the Palace Park and the Royal Forestry Het Loo. This beautiful forest area is definitely worth a visit. The Palace Park and the extensive Forestry are great for walking. The Crown Estate contains various walking routes with distances ranging from 2.5 to 14 kilometres. There is a suitable walking route for every occasion to explore this beautiful area. On top of that, Crown Estate Het Loo is conveniently close to Stayokay Apeldoorn. This makes the hostel the ideal base for discovering one of the most beautiful hiking routes in the Netherlands!

Besides the beautiful nature reserves the Veluwe has to offer, there are many other places in the Netherlands worth visiting. One of these lesser-known places is the Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park. This beautiful rampart landscape is covered with dense forests and vast heaths. A great variety of animals, such as deer, foxes and badgers, can be spotted here. The walking route is relatively short (5.6 km), but has some tough sections. It's one of the most stunning hiking trails in the Netherlands and is also recommended for children. The Sallandse Heuvelrug is located in Overijssel, just half an hour's drive from Stayokay Gorssel.

Are you staying at Stayokay Maastricht? Perfect, because in 20 minutes you can walk to the starting point of a stunning walk on the Sint-Pietersberg. It's called a mountain but officially it's a hill, but trust us: once you start climbing, it really feels like a mountain. With winding paths, sweeping views and a touch of foreign charm, this is the place to be for a refreshing walk.

At the tip of Walcheren, between Domburg and the Veerse Gatdam, lies one of Zeeland's most extraordinary natural areas: the Manteling van Walcheren. This unique dune area shows you how dunes are formed, shift and change. An added bonus: it's just a short walk from Stayokay Domburg!