Holiday apartment in Heemstede: Discover trails, nature and culture

Heemstede combines hiking trails, park landscapes, history and cultural experiences. In Wandelbos Groenendaal, there is a red hiking route and a white cultural-historical walking route; Park Meermond has both a play forest and a sustainability trail. Het Oude Slot, Huis te Manpad and the Pons Pacis add further historical points of interest in the town. The town’s history stretches from castle remains to commemorating the Peace of Münster.

Hiking trails and parks for varied days out

A red hiking route of approximately 4.2 km runs through Wandelbos Groenendaal. This distance provides a clear framework for planning the day around this section of the route. The approximate distance can be taken into account when scheduling a walk. There is also a white cultural-historical walking route. Along this route, historical information provides details about points of interest.

In Park Meermond, the play forest offers space for playing and exploring. The park also features a sustainability trail, whose information panels provide information about the environment and the surrounding area. Those who plan their visit to the park around specific themes can thus distinguish between playful exploration and a section focused on environmental information.

Historic sites in Heemstede: Het Oude Slot, Pons Pacis and Huis te Manpad

The Het Oude Slot complex is a surviving remnant of Heemstede’s former castle. At Het Oude Slot, the foundations of the former castle are also separately protected as an archaeological Rijksmonument, making them a national monument.

At Het Oude Slot, visitors can therefore focus both on the surviving complex and on the separately protected foundations of the former castle. Another historical point of reference is the Pons Pacis, also known as the Vredesbrug. It was built in 1648 to commemorate the Peace of Münster. Huis te Manpad can be discovered as part of an excursion; a walk through the park is also part of the visiting experience.

Animal experiences and nature in the surrounding area

Kinderboerderij ’t Molentje is the oldest municipal petting farm in the Netherlands. More than 200 animals from around 40 breeds live there.

The Frans Hals Museum and the Frans Hals monument are located in the vicinity of Heemstede. The surrounding area also includes the Kuiperijmuseum, the Ruïne van Brederode, Park Zwarte Veld, the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen, Park De Kennemerduinen and Park Schoterbos.

Cultural concert event at the Oude Kerk: Theeconcerten

At the Theeconcerten in the Oude Kerk, the concerts each start at 3:00 p.m., last approximately one hour and are free to attend. The fixed start time and approximate duration give the concert a clear place in the day’s schedule. This makes it possible to include the event as a separate, time-limited item on the programme.

For the main travel overview: Heemstede.