Weerribben-Wieden National Park

Weerribben-Wieden National Park is a beautiful and interesting national park, located in the eastern Netherlands. An extraordinary landscape of marshes, waterways, lakes, reedbeds, forests, and charming villages, national park Weerribben Wieden covers the largest bog in north-western Europe. And although bogs are often thought of as unattractive terrain, Weerribben-Wieden National Park is surprisingly pretty and fascinating. So, let’s have a closer look at this unusual national park.

TRIVIA:
❒ Official name: Weerribben-Wieden National Park (Nationaal Park Weerribben-Wieden)
❒ Established: 1992/2009
❒ Size: 10500 ha
❒ Location: Overijssel

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About Weerribben-Wieden National Park

Weerribben-Wieden National Park is in the province of Overijssel, in the eastern Netherlands. As the name suggests, the national park consists of two separate areas, De Weerribben and De Wieden. In total, Weerribben-Wieden National Park is just over 100 square kilometres and is jointly managed by the State Forestry Service (Staatsbosbeheer), and the privately-run Society for Preservation of Nature Monuments in the Netherlands (Vereniging Natuurmonumenten).

Humans have lived in the Weerribben-Wieden National Park area for thousands of years, but the boggy landscape we see today is entirely man-made. During the mid-16^th century, farmers began using the area to extract peat, an important source of pre-Industrial era fuel and fertiliser.

The entire landscape transformed as peat was dug up in vast quantities, canals were built for transport, and mills were erected to keep water levels consistent. Large areas of the bog were also used for cultivating reeds, a key item needed for thatching. Commercial peat extraction ended in the 1950s, leaving behind this beautiful, man-made landscape.

How to get to Weerribben-Wieden National Park

The Weerribben-Wieden National Park is just a few kilometres from the city of Zwolle, capital of Overijssel province, and just a short distance from the towns of Steenwijk, Emmeloord (Flevoland), and Meppel (Drenthe). And even better, it’s only 90 minutes from Amsterdam, making it the perfect length for a day trip.

Read more: What to do and see in Zwolle

Here are some distances to Steenwijk, which is considered the main entry point to the park, from a few major cities in the Netherlands:

Groningen – Steenwijk: 85 km/ 1 hr;
Leeuwarden – Steenwijk: 55 km/42 min;
Amsterdam – Steenwijk: 120 km/1 hr 30 min;
Eindhoven – Steenwijk: 190 km/2 hrs;
Rotterdam – Steenwijk: 190 km/2 hrs;
Maastricht – Steenwijk: 270 km/3 hrs.

Steenwijk is also well-connected with public transport to the rest of the Netherlands. A trip from Amsterdam by train takes about 1 hr and 30 minutes.

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

Facilities in Weerribben-Wieden National Park

As one of the larger national parks in the Netherlands, and with several owners and two distinct sections, it’s not surprising that Weerribben-Wieden National Park has 2 major visitors’ centres:

1. De Wieden Visitor Centre

De Wieden Visitor Centre is located at Sint Jansklooster in the park’s south-west. It’s a great starting point for excursions into the park, whether you’re going on foot, by bike, in a canoe, or as part of a guided tour. It’s also a departure point for the waterbus which runs services to Blokzijl and Giethoorn.

At the backside of the De Wieden Visitor Centre you can spot a tjasker – a reclined windmill on a pole used for drainage purposes. The tjaskers are typical for Friesland but they can be also found in Overijssel. After the 1930s they have disappeared from the landscape. De Foeke (the tjasker at the De Wieden Visitor Centre) was built in 1968 to demonstrate how a tjasker would work. This particular windmill has a capacity of 25 m3 per hour.

2. Outdoor Centre Weerribben

At Ossenzijl on the park’s northern edge, is Outdoor Centre Weerribben. Here you’ll find plenty of park information, plus a small shop with maps, equipment, and souvenirs. It’s also a great starting point for water excursions into the park, whether you’re in a canoe, sailboat, or a guided tour boat.

Other, smaller visitors’ centres can be found in Kalenberg, in the park’s north, and at the Schoonewelle Nature and Craft Centre in Zwartsluis to the park’s south. Both of these centres offer information, tours, and activities.

Things to do at Weerribben-Wieden National Park

With such a large and beautiful area just waiting to explore, there’s plenty of great things to do at Weerribben-Wieden National Park. Let’s check out some of the highlights.

1. Canoeing and Boating

As a large area of wetlands and marshes, the best way to explore Weerribben-Wieden National Park is via boat. There are literally thousands of channels, canals, waterways, and lakes to explore across the park, and putting together an exhaustive list would be almost impossible. Highlight routes include the 7km Canoe Route Ossenzijl, starting and finishing near Ossenzijl, or for something longer the 10km Canoe Route Dwarsgracht is a great choice.

If you don’t have your own equipment, most nearby towns and villages have companies offering canoe hire and sailboat hire. Some also offer stand-up paddleboard (SUP) hire if you’re interested in trying out some SUP.

Or, if you’d prefer to let someone else to the hard work, there’s plenty of choices for guided boat tours as well. These generally depart from the main towns and visitors’ centres, and usually sell tickets on board (rather than pre-booking, though some pre-booked cruise options are available too).

2. Walk the famous Floating Walkway

In addition to the water activities above, there’s lots of other exciting things to do in Weerribben-Wieden National Park. One popular choice is the floating walkway, a one kilometre walk through fenlands along a raised boardwalk. It’s flat and level, suitable for all ages and mobility levels (including prams, wheelchairs, and walking frames), and starts near the visitors’ centre in De Wieden.

Just off the floating walkway, you’ll find two authentic huts that were once used by the area’s peat farmers. It’s a great way to experience life in the past, as the buildings and surrounds have been well preserved.

3. Put on your wellies

Also near the De Wieden visitors’ centre, you’ll find the Wetlands Adventure trail. This nature trail runs through the marshes, sloshing through the water (bring your gumboots/wellies!), and involves crossing several waterways via barges, which you’ll need to operate yourself with the provided ropes and pulleys. The trail is 2,34 km long and it takes about 47 minutes.

4. Hiking and Cycling

For something a little longer than the short hikes mentioned above, there’s plenty of other great choices in the national park. The 13-kilometre Weerribben Walking Route starts and ends at Ossenzijl and explores some of the park’s most picturesque landscapes. Or, the 15-kilometre Kiersche Wijde Route covers the beautiful south-eastern corner of the park, looping out and back from the village hall in Wanneperveen.

For cyclists, an excellent option is the Round Weerribben (Rondje Weerribben) route, which does a 31-kilometre loop around the waterways. It’s best to start this one at Ossenzijl. Or if you’re up for an even longer challenge, the 45-kilometre Giethoorn to Woldberg route loops from nearby Steenwijk, through the national park, the beautiful village of Giethoorn, and eventually back to Steenwijk.

5. Visit Giethoorn

No visit to the area would be complete without visiting Giethoorn, one of the prettiest little villages in the Netherlands, a country that’s already packed full of pretty little villages! Often referred to as the “Venice of the Netherlands” Giethoorn is almost entirely car free – the only transport in the village is by boat, bike, or foot! It’s an enchanting place, where boats ride gently down the canals, shops and cafes ply their trade directly onto the water, and quaint thatched cottages line the banks.

It’s a picture-perfect spot, and although it’s not quite in the national park, it’s still a must-visit.

Tip: The best way to visit Giethoorn if you don’t have much time is with an organized day tour from Amsterdam. There are also options that include a day trip with a cruise in Giethoorn.

6. Get a bird’s-eye view over the area

Nearby the Wieden Visitor Centre in Sint Jansklooster is a 46-metre-tall water tower that offers spectacular views across the landscape, though it’s only open on Saturdays and must be pre-booked. The water tower was built in 1932 and was functioning until 2002. Although the architect of the tower remains unknown, the influence of the Amsterdam School is discernible. Climb the 207 steps an enjoy the amazing view across the national park!

7. Spot the windmills

Beside the tjasker at the De Wieden Visitor Centre, there is another tjasker near Kalenberg. A few hundred meters further down the road there’s a small wooden spider head-mill – De Wicher. It was built at the place where the last windmill of this type stood in the National park stood, which was dismantled in 1942. The current windmill De Wicher was built in 1982 and is still used to drain the water from the reed fields.

8. Bird watching

With so much water the Weerribben-Wieden National Park is perfect for those who enjoy bird-watching. There are quite some bird-watching spots, some of them even equipped with binoculars. On the map above you can find all spots.

9. Check out the cute water villages and lovely towns

Besides Giethoorn there are a few other, less popular water villages in the national park. A great way to discover them is either hire a boat or canoe and see them from the water, or take the walking trail (24,9 km) or the biking trail (45,2 km) that goes along them: Dwarsgracht, Wanneperveen, Belt-Schutsloot.

Other lovely places to visit around the national park are Vollenhove, Blokzijl, Ossenzijl, Steenwijk, and Zwartsluis.

Where to stay at Weerribben-Wieden National Park

The choice of campsites in the Weerribben-Wieden National Park is overwhelming, from little campsites in near the water, or in lovely farms, to large recreational areas with swimming pools and water parks.

Here’s a small selection of some of the best campsites:

• Campsite Kleine Belterwijde – Vaste Belterweg 3, 8066 PT Belt-Schutsloot
• Minicamping Oltenbarg – Veneweg 71, 7946 LE Wanneperveen
• Campsite De Kluft – Hoogeweg 26, 8376 EM Ossenzijl
• Ardoer vakantiepark ´t Akkertien – Noordwal 3, 8325 PP Vollenhove

To see all campsites in the National Park, check out the website of Eurocampings.

Do you love staying in charming B&Bs or holiday homes? Check out these options:

• B&B De Stadssingel – 20 Kornputsingel, 8331 JT Steenwijk
• B&B Op Kolderveen – Kolderveen 25, 7948 NG Nijeveen
• Het Leeuwterveld – Leeuwte 23, 8326 AA Sint Jansklooster
• Ruigenhof Bed & Breakfast – Leeuwte 64, 8326 AD Sint Jansklooster
• B&B Tulden Farmhouse – Beulakerweg 65, 8355 AC Giethoorn
• Buitengoed Fredeshiem Holiday Homes – Eiderberg 2, 8346 KJ De Bult
• Waterresort Bodelaeke Giethoorn – Jonenweg 5, 8355 CN Giethoorn

If you’d rather prefer hotels, there are both small family hotels and famous large chain hotel to choose from:

• Auberge aan het Hof – Kerkstraat 9, 8356 DN Blokzijl
• Stadslogement De Smederij van Steenwijk – Gasthuisstraat 34-36, 8331 JR Steenwijk
• Fletcher Hotel Steenwijk – Woldmeentherand 15, 8332 JE Steenwijk
• Hotel Zwartewater – De Vlakte 20, 8064 PC Zwartsluis
• Hotel de Harmonie – Beulakerweg 55, 8355 AB Giethoorn
• Recreatiecentrum de Kluft – Hoogeweg 26, 8376 EM Ossenzijl

Final words

Overall, Weerribben-Wieden National Park is a fantastic place to visit. It’s one of the most interesting national parks in the Netherlands, and as the “unofficial” Giethoorn national park it’s one of the highlights of visiting Overijssel.