Autumn in the Netherlands is something special. The days are crisp, the air carries that refreshing chill, mornings are covered in mist, and the leaves put on a show of golds, oranges, and reds. Or it rains for a week in a row and you forget why you said you love autumn. In any case, the fall season invites you to slow down and take in the beauty of the world around you. The parks are the highlight of the season. And when I say parks, I\u2019m talking about the national parks or the small forests the Dutch call parks. The colours are simply amazing in the golden autumn sun, or beautifully muted on a misty morning, when the paths are spooky and quiet. The Netherlands has many parks and natural areas that can be visited. You can choose one of the national parks <\/strong>like De Hoge Veluwe and Veluwezoom in Gelderland<\/a>, De Biesbosch in North Brabant<\/a>, and De Alde Feanen<\/a> in Friesland<\/a>, or go to smaller forests and parks<\/strong> like Schoorlse Duinen, Bergerbos<\/a>, Amsterdamse Bos<\/a>, Mastbos and any other that are close to you.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Autumn is mushroom season, and I\u2019m a big fan of going on a mushroom hunt in the forest. When I say mushroom spotting, I mean you\u2019re only allowed to look: it\u2019s not allowed to pick mushrooms in the Netherlands<\/strong>. People go around discovering and photographing them without touching them. You can do this on your own, in any forest, or choose one of the well-known mushroom paths in various parks. In certain areas, there are guided walks for mushroom spotting<\/strong>, which can be a great opportunity for beginners and those who want to learn more. There are walks for kids as well. This is one of the best things to do in autumn, in my opinion!<\/p>\n Places to go:<\/strong> How to do it:<\/strong> Maybe you\u2019re a bird lover. Then you\u2019ll have a wonderful time going out to watch the migration, spotting all kinds of birds whose names I don\u2019t know, but you certainly do.<\/p>\n Where to stand and stare: Embrace the Dutch habit of uitwaaien and go out even when it\u2019s cold and windy<\/a>. Uitwaaien literally translates to \u201cto blow out\u201d, as in letting the wind blow through you. It\u2019s the Dutch practice of heading outside to walk in windy weather<\/a>, to clear your mind and refresh your spirit. It\u2019s a habit I happily embraced, and my favourite place to do that is the beach. The wind biting at your cheeks, combined with the salty sea air, creates such an invigorating feeling! Where to go? Any of the beaches along the coast. They are all beautiful, wide and each with its own charm. I love going to Egmond aan Zee or Petten aan Zee<\/a>, or to Texel Island, which is great for dunes and birdwatching. For an extra touch, late afternoon walks often offer dramatic skies and a truly energising atmosphere.<\/p>\n This is mostly apple and pear picking, but there are occasional other fruits and berries. There are a couple of pluktuinen<\/strong><\/em> (picking gardens)<\/strong> in Amsterdam and its surroundings, but there are many more across the country. Regions like the Betuwe, the Achterhoek or Zeeland are famous for their fruit orchards, but you can use this website to find the ones close to your location: Look for Pluktuinen<\/a>. A few popular ones:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Fruit tuin van West<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 \u00a0Fruitkwekerij \u2019t Keetje<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 \u00a0Landgoed de Olmenhorst<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 \u00a0Boerderij de Kikkershoek<\/a>, close to Dordrecht. <\/p>\n \u2022 \u00a0Vink Fruit Boerderij<\/a>, Kraggenburg<\/p>\n \u2022 \u00a0Phillips fruit tuin<\/a>, close to Eindhoven. <\/p>\n \u2022 \u00a0Voedsel Bos<\/a>, Texel island. <\/p>\n In recent years, pumpkin farms have become popular in the Netherlands too, following the Halloween traditions borrowed from the USA. There are farms where you can pick your own pumpkins and markets where you can find these colourful autumn wonders. The Dutch castles might not be as amazing as the ones you can find in other countries, but they\u2019re still beautiful and make for great dagje wegs. In autumn, they change their appearance. Moats reflect copper beeches; the mist surrounds them and courtyards smell faintly of woodsmoke and history.<\/p>\n Where to play lord or lady for a day<\/strong><\/p>\n Along the usual weekly markets, there are harvest or farmers markets organised all around the country. Here are only a few: \u2022 Stoofperenfeest<\/a> in Ruinerwold (Drenthe)<\/p>\n \u2022 The Rotterdam Harvest Market<\/a>: seasonal produce market in Rotterdam in October\/November.<\/p>\n \u2022 Farmers market Losser<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 Pluk & Oogstfeest<\/a> in Mill: a free autumn harvest & food festival with local farmers, tasting, kids\u2019 activities.<\/p>\n \u2022 Artisanal Market<\/a> in Eck en Wiel.<\/p>\n This big flower parade (dahlias) takes place in early September and it\u2019s truly impressive. Bloemencorso Zundert<\/a> is the largest flower parade in the world, entirely made with dahlias grown locally by volunteers. Every year, 20 hamlets around Zundert compete by building massive, moving artworks<\/strong> that can reach up to 9 meters high and 19 meters long. The parade draws tens of thousands of visitors, and is a spectacular mix of creativity and community spirit.<\/p>\n From late August into September, vast fields in the Dutch national parks are covered in purple: it\u2019s the time when the heather bushes are blooming, and it\u2019s spectacular! You can visit them by walking or cycling. <\/p>\n Where to see it: This may come as a surprise, but viticulture is on the rise in the Netherlands<\/strong>. There are beautiful vineyard areas in the south and east of the country, and you can visit them. For example, the 11-kilometre Wine Route Vijlen \u2013 Holset<\/a> in Limburg can be done by bike and takes you along vineyards like Wijndomein St. Martinus<\/a>, through hills and forests. Other regions where you can cycle through wine estates are Drenthe and the Achterhoek. And you can follow a 13-kilometer Errekomsepad path walk along the Betuwe villages, lush meadows and the Betuws Wijndomein. Along the way, there are tasting opportunities as well, so you can experience the flavors of the region.<\/p>\n Museum Night, a beloved event that usually takes place in October-November, sees museums staying open late with a variety of activities<\/strong>. Museum Night takes place on different dates in different cities. For example, Museum Night Amsterdam<\/a><\/strong> is on 1 November this year, while Alkmaar\u2019s event<\/a> is on 27 September and The Hague\u2019s<\/a> on 11 October. During the evening, participants can explore museums in unusual ways, like guided tours, workshops, performances, or light installations. Tickets are usually valid for multiple museums in a city, making it easy to experience a full night of culture and creativity.<\/p>\n Visit an open-air museum like the Zuiderzeemuseum<\/a> in Enkhuizen<\/a>. This has various activities for kids and adults alike, including autumn-specific ones like the Oudhollandse kermis <\/a>(the Old Holland Fair) organised during the autumn school break.<\/p>\n Autumn in the Netherlands is a great time to get out and explore. The weather is crisp, the landscapes change color, and there are plenty of things to do, whether it\u2019s a bike ride through the countryside, a walk on the heath, a visit to a market, or a museum trip. I hope this list gave you some ideas for the next weekend! What are your favourite activities to do in autumn?<\/p>\n Stay tuned for more and follow Amsterdamian on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0for more stories about life in the Netherlands. Please share this post if you liked it! <\/p>\n Check out my photo book:\u00a0Amsterdam Through the Seasons<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n Love what you\u2019re reading? Support my work with a small donation<\/a>.<\/p>\n
And, after you\u2019ve had your share of cosy afternoons on the couch, and you start dreaming of outdoor adventures, discovering a cosy caf\u00e9 tucked away in a quiet village, or a charming museum that invites you to learn something new, check out this list of things to choose from. The Dutch \u201cdagje weg\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/strong> mentality is alive and well, and autumn is the perfect time to take full advantage of it. Grab your rain jacket, hop on a train, and explore beautiful corners of the Netherlands during this golden season.<\/p>\n
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\n\t<\/figure>\nBest things to do in the Netherlands in autumn<\/h2>\n
Chase golden leaves in the parks<\/h3>\n
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\n\t<\/a>Mushroom spotting<\/h3>\n
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\u2022 Oisterwijkse Vennen en Bossen<\/a><\/strong> (near Tilburg): pools, pines and a very active Natuurmonumenten visitor centre with family-friendly walks.
\u2022 Schoorlse Duinen<\/a><\/strong> (north of Alkmaar): dunes meet forest. Staatsbosbeheer runs excellent excursions from the Buitencentrum.
\u2022 Drents-Friese Wold<\/a> or Dwingelderveld<\/strong>: big northern forests.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Book via Natuurmonumenten<\/a>, Staatsbosbeheer<\/a> or IVN<\/a>. Tours are usually 1.5\u20132 hours, often Dutch-led but very visual and welcoming.
\u2022 Expect around \u20ac7\u2013\u20ac15 per adult; kids cheaper. Wear waterproof shoes; paths get happily squelchy.
\u2022 Bring a loupe or macro lens.<\/p>\n
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\n\t<\/a><\/figure>\nFollow the bird migration<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>\u2022 Oostvaardersplassen (Flevoland)<\/strong>: take the train to Almere Oostvaarders and walk to hides around the visitor centre. Big reedbeds, big skies, big birds. Dawn and late afternoon are best.
\u2022 Lauwersmeer (Friesland\/Groningen)<\/strong>: a migration hotspot. Public transport works but a car is handy here.
\u2022 Biesbosch (Brabant\/Zuid\u2011Holland)<\/strong>: willows, creeks and beavers. Rent a whisper boat or kayak from Dordrecht\/Drimmelen; eagles often perch on dead snags like they own the place (and they do).
\u2022 Marker Wadden<\/a> (from Lelystad)<\/strong>: a man-made bird paradise. Ferries are limited outside summer, so book ahead. Boardwalks, dunes, and flocks on fresh lagoons.<\/p>\n
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\n\t<\/a>Let the wind clear your mind<\/h3>\n
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\n\t<\/a>Go fruit picking<\/h3>\n
Fruit picking season in the Netherlands usually runs from August to October, depending on the type of fruit. Many picking gardens also have small caf\u00e9s or farm shops, so you can enjoy a coffee or a snack after picking your own apples, pears, or berries.<\/p>\n
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\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nVisit a pumpkin farm<\/h3>\n
Where to go: Pluktuik Amstelveen, Pumpkin Farm Bos in Opperdoes, The Marlequi in Warmenhuizen are only a few. Check out this list for more pumpkin farms by region<\/a>. You can join events like the Pumpkin Picking Days<\/a>, in Oostwold, and Pumpkin Market at Hofje van Harkstede, where you can find fun fall decorations, crafts, local stalls.<\/p>\n
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\n\t<\/a>See the castles in their autumn coats<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>\u2022 Kasteel de Haar<\/a> (Haarzuilens, near Utrecht<\/strong>): theatrical turrets, formal gardens, and a village that looks like it was set-designed. Train to Vleuten, pick up an OV-fiets, and pedal through lanes lined with oaks (or take the bus).
\u2022 Muiderslot (Muiden):<\/strong> stout, storybook fortress at the mouth of the Vecht. Easy to reach from Amsterdam or Weesp by bus; sometimes a ferry from Amsterdam runs on autumn weekends.
\u2022 Doorwerth (near Arnhem)<\/strong>: brick beauty on the floodplains. Combine a castle visit with a river walk under ancient oaks.
\u2022 Slot Loevestein (between rivers)<\/strong>: fortress-island vibes. Reach it via ferry from Gorinchem\/Woudrichem when services run; otherwise by car. Mist here is practically a special effect.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t<\/span>Visit the small town fairs and markets<\/h3>\n
\u2022 Autumn in the fields<\/a> in Drenthe<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t<\/span>Bloemencorso Zundert (Zundert, Brabant)<\/h3>\n
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\n\t<\/a>Immerse yourself in the purple heather fields<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>\u2022 Veluwe \/ Veluwezoom<\/a> & Posbank (Gelderland). The Posbank in the Veluwezoom offers rolling hills covered in purple heather when in bloom.
\u2022 Hilversum Area & Gooi de Vechtstreek (North Holland). Around Hilversum you have several heide patches: Hoorneboegse Heide, Bussummerheide, Zuiderheide etc.
\u2022 Strabrechtse Heide (Noord\u2010Brabant). A large heathland area (~1500 ha), very accessible from places in Noord-Brabant
\u2022 Schoorlse Duinen<\/a>. Start from the visitors centre and choose the heather path.<\/p>\n
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\n\t<\/a>Visit a vineyard<\/h3>\n
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<\/a>Spend a night at the museums<\/h3>\n
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\n\t<\/figure>\nVisit an open-air museum<\/h3>\n
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