Find adventure somewhere other than Italy and France. There is still so much to experience and discover in the Netherlands. Today, the norm is to seek adventure and preferably far away. Unfortunately, we don't always have the money, time or opportunity to do this in a place far away.
Yet it is very easy to look for adventure, just in the Netherlands. A micro adventure where you can easily break through the daily grind. Challenge yourself and go in search of a piece of undiscovered Netherlands.
What is a micro adventure?
Briton Alastair Humphries is the pioneer of micro adventure. "Adventures are important to us," he says. "We want to be challenged, experience things, and not feel afterwards that we have experienced too little in our lives". With him, nothing was too crazy: he hiked through beautiful India, rowed across the ocean and cycled around the world. This changed when he had a family. However, he did notice that others were not always up for epic adventure: they had no money, no time, it was too much for them or they had a family.
Alastair thought: why not make adventure so small that you no longer have an excuse not to start it? He and his friend hiked around London, following the M25 ring road - very interesting and challenging, but not really a super beautiful highlight at first. "Adventure is more of an attitude than anything else, and if that's the case, you can find adventure anywhere," he says. "The idea is that you apply the philosophy of great adventures locally."
A micro adventure is close by, short and cheap. A weekend, for example, or a 5-to-9 instead of 9-to-5 adventure. For example, you hike up a hill and go wild camping there. Let yourself be surprised and challenge yourself. The handy thing about a micro adventure is that it is so small that anyone can dare to do it, including children. "Just do what you can, but also what excites and inspires you," says Alastair.
Make it as wild and adventurous as you want. "Just go into nature and do something new and different. The only limit is your imagination". Moreover, you can see micro adventure much wider than just the outdoors. A highway, village or city also lend themselves to it.
1. Unique accommodation in nature - Sleep off the beaten track
In other words, sleep out-of-the-bed. In your own garden, in a tent or just a sleeping bag. That way you can stare at the stars for hours. Or sleep in someone else's garden. Through Campspace, you can book the nicest places all over the country. At the farmer's yard or in people's backyards. A super unique way to spend the night and so close to home.
2. Adventure around the corner - Discover a totally different place
Search in your own environment, are there places to discover that you haven't been to before? I myself am exploring the ten-kilometre area around my house. Sometimes by bike and sometimes on foot. I also try not to think too heavily about a destination, to keep it adventurous. For instance, grab a map and pick a random town, village or area. Or visit one of Honeyguide's beautiful hidden gems. You can also jump on public transport (or car) and go somewhere you haven't been before. Challenge yourself and, above all, be surprised.
3. Wander through nature or a city/village - Take the unknown path
Of course, you can follow a fixed route, but you can also wander through nature. How much fun is this challenge. Look at the position of the sun and follow the path of your intuition. I myself do this regularly in the Breda Mastbos, but I have also done this a lot in the dunes and the Limburg forests. Sometimes I even go at night, after dark, with a friend. Or I go alone at sunrise. Nature looks totally different then and I often encounter deer. You can do the same with a town or village. Go without a preconceived route, take the unknown path and be surprised.
4. Wild swimming in nature - Find a lake or a river
Swimming in nature, also known as wild swimming, is on the rise. After such a swim, you feel reborn. A local river or lake is always nearby, just ask a local passer-by.
You can also rent a canoe and make your way through the Biesbosch or around Utrecht at Amelisweerd and Rhijnauwen, for example. Even then you can take the occasional dip!
5. Climb a hill - Experience the feeling of adventure abroad
If there's one thing I miss in the Netherlands, it's mountains. Mountains give me a sense of adventure abroad. But something not to forget: we have hills and dunes, they are certainly not inferior. Think of the South Limburg hills, the hills near the Utrecht Ridge and near Arnhem and Nijmegen. We also have beautiful dune areas where you will meet few people, especially during the week. A day of climbing unleashes the (micro-)adventurer in you.
Love,
Brigitte
P.S. Honeyguide Brigitte also has her own website called Alice goes Wild. This is an inspiration platform for women (but also men), where she inspires people to live more adventurous lives.