De Alde Feanen National Park

De Alde Feanen National Park is a fascinating and beautiful national park located in the northern Netherlands. As a reclaimed marshland, it’s an enticing and interesting environment, and home to hundreds of species of fish, birds, plants, and other animals. There’s a surprising variety of things to see and do here at De Alde Feanen National Park, so let’s have a closer look at this unique spot.

TRIVIA:
❒ Official name: De Alde Feanen National Park (Nationaal Park De Alde Feanen)
❒ Established: 2006
❒ Size: 2500 ha
❒ Location: Friesland

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About De Alde Feanen National Park

De Alde Feanen National Park (officially known as Nationaal Park De Alde Feanen) is a compact 25 square kilometres, located in the centre of Friesland province. It’s conveniently located just 20 kilometres south-east of Leeuwarden, and about 30 kilometres north of Heerenveen. Even though it’s fairly small, there’s a variety of landscapes here including lakes and ponds, marshes and swamps, polders and meadows, forests, and even the little village of Earnewâld.

Fun fact: ‘De Alde Feanen’ is the Frisian for ‘De Oude Venen’, which translates into English as ‘The Old Peats’. Frisian is a completely different language from the Dutch. Actually, in the Dutch province of Friesland, people speak the West Frisian languages with the most spoken being the Mainland West Frisian (99% of the Frisian population).

De Alde Feanen has a fascinating history as well. It’s an area of low-lying peatland in what’s known as “Lege Midden van Fryslân” (the empty middle of Friesland), where the soil isn’t fertile enough to support farming. But in the 17^th century, locals realised that dried peat was a valuable source of fuel, and peat extraction became the area’s major industry, right through until the late 19^th century when most of the peat was exhausted.

As with much of the Netherlands, areas of De Alde Feanen were drained of water and reclaimed, including 400 hectares at De Hege Warren in 1939. But the wet, marshy soil couldn’t support efficient farming practices, and after World War 2, tourism and recreation became the focus of the area. De Alde Feanen was declared a National Park in 2006.

How to get to De Alde Feanen National Park

The national park is very close to the capital city of Friesland – Leeuwarden. The best way to reach the park is by car, as there is no direct public commute to the park itself.

Here are some distances to the park from major cities in the Netherlands:

• Leeuwarden: 20 km/25 min;
• Groningen: 60 km/50 min;
• Amsterdam: 160 km/1 hr 50 min;
• Eindhoven: 250 km/2 hr 40 min;
• Rotterdam: 230 km/2 hr 30 min.

If you still decide to travel by public transport, you will need first to get to Leeuwaarden or to Drachten and then to Nijega. From Leeuwaarden, take bus line 114 and get off at bus stop Rijksweg, Nijega. The ride takes about 25 minutes. From Drachten, take bus line 20 and get off at bus stop Dorpshuis, Nijega. Both lines, 114 and 20, ride between Leeuwarden and Drachten. In Nijega you will need to use the so-called local ‘Opstapper‘, which you have to book at least an hour before your trip. From Leeuwarden, you need Opstapper line 6092 and from Drachten – 6091. You can book the trip at 0800-2802803 (no telephone charges apply).

Tip: Read this post about using the public transport in the Netherlands. It’s packed with tips that only a local knows!

Facilities in De Alde Feanen National Park

There is one tourism office and one visitor centre in the national park.

Tourist information office Earnewald

The central hub for everything at De Alde Feanen National Park is the tourist information office, located in the town of Earnewald (Earnewâld in Frisian or Eernewoude in Dutch). Officially known as Toeristenbureau Earnewald, it should be the first port of call for any visitor to the park. Here you’ll find information brochures about things to see and do in the park, interactive exhibitions on the history, flora, and fauna of De Alde Feanen, along with helpful staff and of course a souvenir shop. You can also buy tickets for organised tours into the park, including guided walks, kids’ activities, and boat cruises too.

Visitor Centre National Park De Alde Feanen

There’s also a dedicated visitor centre to the national park, which is open only in the period April-September. Not only do they have a wealth of information about the park, but they also organize various exhibitions. There’s always a permanent interactive exhibition about the park and temporary ones are organized on a frequent basis.

Things to do at De Alde Feanen National Park

De Alde Feanen National Park has plenty of great things to do, with activities to suit all lifestyles and ages. Let’s have a look at some of the most popular.

1. Hiking & cycling

De Alde Feanen National Park is home to large network of pathways, winding their way through the swamps and marshlands. There are two main areas for hiking: Wikelslan and the 40 Med located northwest of Earnewald, along with Jan-Durkspolder and the Pettebosk to the south-east. In general, the Wikelslan area is wetter and quieter, while the Jan-Durkspolder side is drier and more forested. It’s also paved, and thus wheelchair friendly.

For cyclists, highlights include the 45-kilometre Ferry Route which loops westwards from Earnewald, or the 30-kilometre Northern Forest route, which heads north from Earnewald. All the cycling and hiking routes are well signposted out in the national park, but it’s still a good idea to have a map (or ideally, the national park app!) to refer to. Note as well that the Ferry Route requires catching ferries across several canals and waterways, so you’ll need to know ferry times in advance (again, these are available from the brochure or the app).

Bicycle hire is available in Earnewald, with a variety of operators and prices. Electric bikes, family bikes, tandem bikes, and many others are available.

2. Get out on the water

It seems obvious, but the best way to experience a national park that’s mostly water is to get out on the water itself! There’s lots of ways to do this at De Alde Feanen National Park, including sailing, cruising, canoeing, kayaking, SUP (standup paddleboarding), and kite surfing too. You can either bring your own vessel (several boat ramps are available) or drop in to one of the many boat hire shops in Earnewald, offering everything from 2-person electric boats to sailboats to luxury yachts. You can also book guided cruises from operators in Earnewald.

Note that since the canals and waterways can be very narrow in some areas (some with overhanging trees as well), so it’s strongly advised to follow a recommended route to avoid getting stuck. Maps and information are available both via the app and the visitor’s centre. 

Here are some places where you can rent a boat:

• Puur Prince – electrical boats (Piet Miedemaweg 15, Earnewâld)
• Westerdijk Sloepenverhuur – e-boats (Piet Miedemaweg 19, Earnewâld)
• Bootverhuur Alde Feanen – boat rentals, e-bike rentals, holiday homes (De Stripe 22, Earnewâld)
• Simmerville – boat rentals, camping, B&B (Smidspaed 2, Earnewâld)
• it Wiid – boat, SUPs, canoes, sail boats, camping, restaurant (Koaidyk 10, Earnewâld)
• De Twirre – e-boats, sailing boats, canoes, SUPs (Reidtugel 5c, Earnewâld)
• W. Hoekstra – yachts, boats, sailing boats (Feantersdyk 10, Earnewâld)
• Holema – boats, canoes, bikes (Tsjerkepaed 5, Earnewâld)
• Wester – boats, rubber boats, water sports shop (Wiidswei 9, Earnewâld)

3. Go camping

Staying overnight in a national park is always a special experience, and De Alde Feanen National Park is no different! There are three campgrounds within the national park, including Nature Camping de Reidplum, Camping it Wiid (with lots of kid-friendly features!), and Campsite Simmerwille. Boat moorings are also on offer, with a three-night maximum stay in designated areas. And of course, if you’d prefer a hotel or B&B stay, the village of Earnewald is home to quite a few choices, with a range of prices and styles.

4. Birdwatching

Birdwatching is one of the most important aspects of the national park, and indeed, De Alde Feanen is a national park partly because of its bird life! There are quite a few bird hides dotted around the park, so be sure to pack your binoculars and birding guides. White storks are commonly seen, and large wooden poles are provided to help them with nesting. Actually De Aalde Feanen is a paradise for the white storks and this the place to go to, to see them. Other species to keep your eyes peeled for include cormorants, herons, ducks, geese, kites, hawks, and even bald eagles!

5. Spot the Big Five

Did you know that De Alde Feanen has its own Big Five? When in the national park try to spot a sea eagle, a deer, a bittern, a cormorant, and a white stork. Then you have seen them all five!

6. Organised tours

There are lots of organised tours departing from the tourist information office in Earnewald every day. These excursions range from kid-friendly activities, to guided walks and bike rides, and of course cruises. Night-time activities are also available, including night walks and cruises specifically designed to showcase the national park at night. Be sure to check the calendar on the official website for specific dates, as places can sell out well in advance!

7. Explore Earnewâld

The little village of Earnewâld is in the middle of the National Park, so you can’t really miss it. Everything in the village revolves around water and water sports. You can visit there the Skûtsjemuseum Earnewâld, where you can see how the typical Frisian boats skûtsjes were made around 1900.

Another lovely museum is It Kokelhûs fan Jan en Sjut, where you can how people have lived in the first half of the last century. Actually, the time has stopped in this house in 1957, when the last owner passed away and left all her belongings and the house to be established and preserved as a museum for the future generations.

8. Skate on natural ice

If you are visiting in winter and when it freezes enough you will have one of these rare opportunities to skate on natural ice! Earnewâld even has its own tournament, which is commemorated with a statue of three ice-skaters. Try to spot it in the water!

Where to stay near De Alde Feanen National Park

For those who love to camp, there are a few camping grounds in the national park:

• Natuurkampeerterrein ‘De Reidplûm’ – pitch up a tent and enjoy the nature
• Camping It Wiid – besides camping, they also have holiday homes and bungalows
• Simmerwille – lovely camping with a B&B

If you are into B&Bs, here’s my choice:

• B&B It Lytshûs – a lovely independent house in the village
• MSK Friesia – what about staying on a boat? A pretty unique B&B on the water
• B&B ByBoukje – a B&B in the centre of Earnewâld
• Dorpslogies Adema – a full of character B&B

Those, who want to stay longer, I would suggest to choose one of the holiday homes in and around the national park. Some of them are fitted with saunas and jacuzzis.

• Chalet Earnewald
• Chalet Emlidanasy
• Watervriend
• Woonboot Sweltsje – a chalet floating on the water
• It Foarhús
• Luxurious Holiday Home – with sauna
• Villa on the water – amazing views on the water, with jacuzzi
• Holiday Home 1 Bungalowpark It Wiid – with sauna
• Holiday Home 2 Bungalowpark It Wiid
• Holiday Home 3 Bungalowpark It Wiid – with sauna and jacuzzi

Should you want to stay in a hotel, the village hotel Hotel Princenhof is pretty lovely. There aren’t other hotels in Earnewâld, but with Leeuwarden, Drachten, Heerenveen and Sneek located just a couple of kilometres away, it’s easy to find a suitable accommodation.

Final Words

Overall, there’s lots to see and do in this quiet and attractive corner of the Netherlands. If you’re looking for a national park Friesland to explore, De Alde Feanen is one of the best choices.

Do you need some extra help to plan your trip to the Netherlands? Join the dedicated Exploring the Netherlands Facebook Group, where you can get tips from other travellers and locals. Or perhaps you have questions or comments? Join the group and I’ll be happy to answer them.