7x adventures in the wilderness of the Netherlands

The old river landscape Gelderse Poort includes the Millingerwaard, the Ooijpolder, the Groenlanden, the Bisonbaai and Klompenwaard. For centuries, the Meuse and Waal rivers flooded the land here. With the arrival of man, the river nature disappeared. After much work by the Forestry Commission, the naturalisation was started and the landscape returned to its original state, with riverine forests and marshes. Wild horses now graze and beavers and sea eagles live there.

You can enjoy adventure cycling and walking here. I myself have walked part of the Walk of Wisdom that runs through the Gelders Poort. Check out this Trage Tocht, for instance. A nice wooden shoe path is this Rijnstagerpad.

Going this way? Then also take a look at Nijmegen's city guide. Or check out this blog, in which I tip my favourite day stages of Long Distance Walking Trails.

De Boschplaat is a nature reserve in the east of Terschelling, one of our Wadden Islands, and can only be reached by bicycle or on foot. It most closely resembles what Terschelling was before people came, with salt marshes, sea, mud flats and a pristine beach. It is therefore perhaps one of the purest wilderness areas in the Netherlands. Parts of this 5 km by 10 km nature reserve are closed from mid-March to October because of breeding birds and resting seals.

You can visit Boschplaat on foot, or by bicycle on an unpaved path. Rottumerplaat, part of the province of Groningen, is another area that is interesting to visit. However, it is rarely open. Monks used to live there, now nature can take its course and only two supervisors live there.

Reed fringes, wild horses, rugged grasslands and water, lots of water. This large swamp area in southern Flevoland is known from the film The New Wilderness. And that's just what it is. It has been created by nature over the past 50 years. You will find spoonbills and cormorants, but thanks to man, also Konik horses, heck cattle and red deer. Whether we should let nature take its course here is up for political debate. Either way, the naturalisation of this area makes for a beautiful nature experience.

The Biesbosch is our well-known unique tidal river delta. Here you will find willow forests, islands and creeks. It can be busy here, so choose your day and time carefully. Be sure to take the ferry to the special island of Tiengemeten in the Haringvliet, an oasis of peace and nature and the very last real island in the south-west of the Netherlands. In 1997, the last farmers were bought out here and the land was given back to nature. The old roads are still visible, but are increasingly disappearing. Take a walk through Wildernis, the freshwater tidal area in the west of the nature island. There is a beautiful 10-kilometre route that runs entirely on unpaved paths.

One of the most important marshlands in Europe, and a national park since 1992, it was declared the most beautiful place in the Netherlands in 2004. It is soaking wet and many parts are inaccessible because of all the water. Despite the wilderness, you will find idyllic villages like Nederland (!) and Muggenbeet. Here you will find several routes through the wilderness of the Weerribben.

The largest brackish water salt marsh in Europe is located in the south of Zeeland. The difference between high and low tide here is almost five metres. It is a very special area. Among other things, you can walk the plankierpad and the Ruige Laarzenpad here.

Are you more of a forest lover? For the primal feeling in ancient wilderness, head to the Speulder- en Sprielderbos, part of the Veluwe. With their 'dancing' trees, these forests are among the oldest and most beautiful in the Netherlands. Nature is allowed to take its course here, although part of it is used for timber production. The various species of trees there - think spruce, oak, fern and pine - each attract different inhabitants, which can result in special encounters in this piece of wilderness.