Walking in Leeuwarden

POV: As a true hiker, you are always on the lookout for the most beautiful nature reserves, hiking trails, and parks. Say no more! After all, you don't have to go all the way to the Hoge Veluwe for a beautiful walk. For nature lovers, Leeuwarden is the perfect base. With several historic parks in the city center, nature reserves within cycling distance, and a national park just around the corner, you have everything your hiker's heart desires here. The only question now is: where do you start?

Historic city parks

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Princetuin

We begin at the Prinsentuin. In 1648, a pleasure garden was laid out in the city on the orders of Prince William Frederick of Nassau. It was a tribute to the end of the Eighty Years' War and the Peace of Münster. This part of the city would remain closed to the public for another 150 years or so. By order of King William I, the park was opened to the public. He gifted the Prinsentuin to the people of Leeuwarden. The park was renovated several times until it became freely accessible in 1795. During the summer months, you can enjoy the Prinsentuin concerts there on Sunday afternoons; on sunny days, people picnic and stroll extensively. It is the backyard of many a Leeuwarden resident. Additionally, it is a beautiful harbor where boats can moor during the high season.

Visit the Prince's Garden

The Rengers Park

North of Leeuwarden's city center lies a green area of over twelve hectares. This green lung of Leeuwarden consists largely of two special parks. The oldest, measuring over four hectares, was laid out as a cemetery and is surrounded by fences. The other part is the beautiful Rengerspark: a special park with a wide variety of vegetation. Trees over a hundred years old, a duck pond, romantic benches, small bridges, and weeping willows make this park cinematically beautiful. Are you visiting Leeuwarden with your dog? Then there is a dog playground directly behind Rengerspark, where dogs can run around and play freely.

Pot margin

Are you drawn to nature but don't want to lose sight of the city? During a walk along the Potmarge, the Achmea Tower remains a fixed landmark. In the Middle Ages, water from the Potmarge flowed towards the Middelzee. The city of Leeuwarden arose on the mounds next to it. Leeuwarden was a favorite city of the royal family. From 1584 to 1747, it was even the court city of the Netherlands. The ancestress of the House of Orange-Nassau, Maria-Louise of Hesse-Kassel, decided to have her country residence built in the area near the Potmarge: Mariënburg. This area was filled with market gardens, farms, and several estates belonging to prominent families. Today, the Potmarge is a protected national monument.

To proceed

Under the smoke

Cycling distance

Just a stone's throw from Leeuwarden, you will find a number of beautiful countryside areas where you can wander around for a long time. Whether you are out with the dog, want to enjoy the peace and quiet, or simply want to let your children run around freely, there is something for everyone.

The Old Fens

National Park

How special is it that a National Park is right around the corner? De Âlde Feanen is one of the largest wetland areas in Western Europe. The alternation of water, swaying reed beds, and fairytale-like swamp forests ensures that there are many different plants, flowers, and animals to admire here. Start the walking, cycling, or boating route at the Visitor Centre. Here, they will tell you all the ins and outs about this valuable nature reserve and the activities you can experience here.

Still in the neighborhood?