Holiday apartment in Bentveld: Dunes, forest and history

Bentveld between dunes and history

Nearby, Rozenwaterveld is an open dune valley within the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen Natura 2000 area. At the end of the 18th century, the Rozenwaterveld area belonged to the Groot Bentveld estate. The name Bentveld seems to be derived from the tough purple moor-grass Molinia, which grows best on moist sandy soil.

Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen: Rules for visiting

Nearby, the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen are open daily from sunrise to sunset with a valid admission ticket. The rules for dogs in the surrounding area are as follows: they are not allowed there; recognized assistance dogs are exempt. Bicycles and other vehicles are also not allowed. Anyone visiting the area should therefore plan with an admission ticket, daylight as the time frame and a stay without a bicycle or vehicle.

Green Zandvoortselaan Route through forest and dunes

Nearby, the 6.7 km Green Zandvoortselaan Route begins in a section of forest with alternating deciduous and coniferous woodland. It then passes through a largely open dune landscape towards Renbaanveld. The 6.7 km provide a fixed route length for planning; at the same time, the landscape changes from forest to open dunes. For planning the day, the fixed route length provides a clear framework, while the change in landscape divides the route into two landscape areas.

Nearby, the Green Route also passes Tonneblink, one of the highest dune peaks in the area. Tonneblink is also a bunker from the Second World War that now provides shelter for bats. The Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen contain approximately 400 bunkers built by Germany during the Second World War, which form part of the Atlantic Wall. In this way, the route combines a landscape landmark with a specific chapter of wartime history.

Cycling routes to Zandvoort and Haarlem

The Rondom het Kraansvlak cycling route passes through Bentveld into the dunes towards the forests of Koningshof and Elswout. Its return route leads through the dunes to Zandvoort via the Duinpieperpad. For cyclists, the outward route heads towards these forests, while the return route leads to Zandvoort.

The Natuurlijk Zandvoort cycling route also passes through Bentveld and Heemstede on to Haarlem. The return route runs via the Visserspad and the Duinpieperpad. The destinations of the two cycling routes differ: one returns to Zandvoort via the Duinpieperpad, while the other leads to Haarlem via the Visserspad and Duinpieperpad.

Groot Bentveld and Bentveld’s past

Groot Bentveld is an 18th-century country estate with parkland on the edge of the dunes. Its history began around 1596 as a dune farm. Nearby, Renbaanveld was a horse-racing track from 1844 to 1855. Stal De Naaldenhof B.V. is an FNRS equestrian facility in Bentveld.

Further destinations: Zandvoort.

To the higher-level travel overview: Zandvoort.