Want to get away from it all? The Helderse Dunes are just a stone's throw from the city, yet feel like a world of its own. Here you can walk among low dune peaks, green valleys, tranquil forests, and an idyllic dune lake. The landscape exudes peace and tranquility. You hear birdsong, the wind whispering through the reeds, and you feel: here, nature is allowed to rule.
The Helderse Dunes are part of a European nature reserve. This is evident everywhere you look. Rare plants bloom in unexpected places. Birds like the black-necked grebe and woodlark nest here in complete silence. This is a place for nature lovers, photographers, hikers, and dreamers.
The Helderse Dunes form a single nature reserve, but consist of three completely different landscapes. Each area has its own unique atmosphere, history, and flora and fauna. Perfect for discovering multiple worlds in a single walk.
The name says it all: these dunes were once the private domain of the Counts of Egmont, who hunted here in the Middle Ages. So you're literally walking through a landscape steeped in nobility. Until the 1980s, drinking water was extracted here, which caused the water level to drop significantly. Now, nature is recovering: the groundwater level is rising, and rare plants are returning.
In the heart of this area lies the Harmplas, a tranquil dune lake where you can spot rare species such as the black-necked grebe in spring and summer. In spring, the fragrant orchid blooms here, a rare orchid that indicates healthy soil.
Along the way, also keep an eye out for the Scottish Highlanders and Konik horses that roam freely here. They help maintain the balance of the vegetation and provide exciting encounters.
The Refugium is perhaps the most surprising part of the Helderse Dunes. This seven-hectare area lies like a green wedge between the buildings of Nieuw Den Helder, the Grafelijkheidsduinen, and the Donkere Duinen. Once home to sports fields, it now offers peace, space, and an explosion of biodiversity.
Thanks to clever nature development, this part of the city has been transformed into a place teeming with life. You can see the fire dragonfly and emperor dragonfly hunting above the clear dune water. The common whitethroat also feels at home here. In winter, the mysterious bittern even descends, searching for food and peace.
Plant lovers are looking forward to species such as the marsh helleborine, which does surprisingly well here.
The name sounds mysterious, and it is a bit like that: the Donkere Duinen (Dark Dunes) originated from the former Wadden Island of Ooghduinen, which over the centuries became attached to the rest of the country. In the early 20th century, a pine forest was planted here to prevent sand drift.
Today, it's a popular walking forest, complete with trails, picnic areas, and even a circular duck pond. Birdwatchers, in particular, will find plenty to enjoy here: marsh birds, woodpeckers, owls, and songbirds are permanent residents.
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