This time a different blog post than usual. In September 2021, I completed the last trail from the booklet Groene Hart trails of the ANWB. This booklet contains 43 round trails in the Green Heart region in the Netherlands. The booklet is no longer for sale and the hexagonal ANWB trail markings are outdated or no longer present everywhere, but the trails can still be followed and found on the internet. Therefore, I thought it would be useful to make an overview of where you can find these trails online.
Some trails are unfortunately not available online, but you can still more or less hike them using the trail network. For each trail, I have indicated which numbers of the network you should follow from the starting point. In addition, I have made a top 5 of the most favourite trails of this booklet and a description of the least favourite one (I have to get it off my chest).
Introduction to the Green Heart
First, a brief introduction to the Green Heart. The Green Heart is located in the west of the Netherlands between the major cities of the Randstad. The area stretches across the provinces of Noord-Holland, Utrecht and Zuid-Holland. The landscape consists mostly of polders, meadows, fields and farms, in short, an agricultural area. But you will also find lakes, marshes, (recreational) forests, (small) rivers and ancient towns and villages. There are an enormous number of hiking paths, on polder roads and cycle paths, but also on tiend roads, towpaths, legakkers (laying fields), wood embankments, farmland paths and off-road paths.
The largest city (and also the centre) of the Green Heart is Gouda, known for its cheese and syrup waffles. Strangely enough, none of the trails from this booklet passes through Gouda. The Goudse Hout trail only passes just outside this city.
Another common sight in the Green Heart are the fortified towns, forts and defensive structures of the Old and New Dutch Waterline. Several forts are open to the public and definitely worth a visit. It is also fun to walk around an old fortified town, such as in Woerden, Muiden or Schoonhoven. Since 2021, the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
What do all these different terms actually mean?
- Legakker – Laying Field: A laying field is a rectangular piece of land in the moorlands on which peat cutters used to lay the peat to dry. The dried peat was pressed into blocks and used as fuel.
- Tiendweg: a tiendweg is a road built on a peat bank, this can be a paved road, but there are also unpaved tiendwegen. These roads are often surrounded by willows.
- Jaagpad – towpath: a jaagpad is a path along a river where ships were pulled forward by horses or people. Such a towpath runs along the Hollandsche IJssel river and the Oude Rijn river.
- Wood embankment: a wood embankment is a peat bank covered with trees such as willow, ash, alder and sometimes oak. The timber from the trees was used by the local residents. The wood embankments often form the boundary of a piece of polder.
- Farmland path: a farmland path is a path across a farmer’s yard and land. The farmer has opened part of his land for hikers. Not my favourite kind of path, you often just walk through a field, which means you have to plough through the mud and high grass. There is often no constructed path. Sometimes the grass is mowed where you are allowed to walk.
- Off-road path: these trails are unpaved paths through the floodplains of a river, for example along the Lek river. At low tide, you can often walk freely on these paths. At high tide, these paths are not accessible because the area is flooded with water.
Source (in Dutch): Wikipedia
Numbers, arrows and posts
All throughout the Green Heart the trail networks can be found. Almost everywhere in the Netherlands, you will find posts with numbers and arrows (sometimes these markings are on lampposts). The numbers indicate the intersection and the arrows show you the way to the next intersection. With the help of a trail planner, you can put together your own trail by linking the numbers together. In this way, you can explore almost all of the Netherlands with the help of the intersections. At wandelnet.nl you will find the entire hiking trail network.
Each province has its own trail network and is divided into regions within the province. For example, the intersection signs in Zuid-Holland have a yellow background and a red number or arrow. In Utrecht, the colours are blue (background) and orange (number or arrow). In the province of Noord-Holland, you can even hike a pre-set trail by following coloured arrows or still plan your own trail using the trail numbers. Each region has its own trail numbers, so if you are hiking on the border of two regions, you may end up with two identical numbers in your trail.
In the overview further on in this post, I have more or less mapped out the trails from the booklet with the help of a trail planner. The trail from the planner and the trail from the booklet are not always the same, simply because there is no trail number or the arrow points in a different direction. That is why some trails via the trail network are slightly longer.
Would you rather map out a trail in the Green Heart yourself? Then go to wandelnet.nl or Routiq for the trail planners. Wandelnetwerk Noord-Holland also has its own website and app with its own planner.
Tourist Transfer Point
I have often mentioned Tourist Transfer Points (TTPs, Toeristisch Overstap Punt or TOP in Dutch) in my blog posts and I want to mention them again because several trails from the ANWB booklet have been ‘taken over’ by such a TOP. TOPs are locations where several hiking, cycling and sometimes boat trails are mapped out, usually with the help of the trail network. TOPs can be found almost everywhere in the country and each province or region has its own variation on a TOP. In Noord-Brabant, for example, these points are called Natuurpoorten (Nature Gates) and can be recognised by a large metal key. In traffic, the location of a TOP is indicated by a brown traffic sign.
There are two types of TOPs in the Green Heart:
- In the province of Noord-Holland there are TOPs in the form of an information column, for example at the Diemerbos car park. Each region of Noord-Holland has its own design of information columns.
- In the provinces of Zuid-Holland and Utrecht the TOPs can be recognised by the large green blade of grass (which I have mentioned before). Near the blade of grass is a kind of square with information panels about the area and the trails.
- You can find the TOP trails in the province of Utrecht on Routesinutrecht.nl, run by Routebureau Utrecht.
- The TOP trails in the province of Zuid-Holland have not been assigned a new destination. Please note: the TOPs’ website is no longer online. The web address has been taken over by a dodgy organisation that allows you to create trails using AI. I advise you not to fall for this. There are plenty of other ways to find enjoyable trails, as mentioned in this blog.
Top 5 favourite trails
1. Groenekan trail
Forest! In the Green Heart there is not much forest to be found and yet that is my most favourite place to hike. Actually, there are only recreational forests to be found, like the Loetbos (although the trail with this name does not go through the nicest part of that forest), but for ancient forests you have to look carefully. There is one exception to the rule and that is the Groenekan trail. The town of Groenekan just above Utrecht is located on the edge of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug and het Gooi. From Groenekan the trail goes to Maartensdijk and back and you walk a large part through the Beukenburg estate. This trail has been replaced by a Klompenpad (wooden shoes trail) and is now called the Beukenburgerpad. I myself hiked there in autumn and really enjoyed the golden yellow leaves falling from the trees.
By the way, I did not complete the whole trail; I skipped the part around Fort Blauwkapel (of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie), but this is a nice variation if you are going to hike this trail.
2. Demmerik trail
Maybe it is because it was the first trail I hiked from the booklet or because it is near my birth town, I find the Demmerik trail in Vinkeveen a very nice trail. For me the trail has many recognisable, but also new spots in the area where I grew up in. Part of this trail goes along with the Bello trail: a hiking trail over the old railway track of the Haarlemmermeer train between Haarlem and Nieuwersluis, named Bello.
Also nice to know is that there is a memorial bench along the old railway track overlooking the Catholic Church of Vinkeveen. This is in memory of my uncle and aunt Leen and Annie. Leen once used the train to visit Annie.
3. Zwanburger trail
The Zwanburger trail itself may be a bit boring, but the trip with the boat De Heere Schouten as a ferryboat makes this a unique hike! The volunteers on the ferry explain all sorts of things about the area and the nature around the trail. They even gave me a pair of binoculars to admire the nature in the Zwanburgerpolder. Really a great experience! I made an extensive story about this trail on this website.
4. Blokland trail
I loved the Blokland trail so much. I enjoyed the barn swallows that flew around me on the Tiendweg and the other animals I saw, such as a toad, a hare and many bird species. Also fun are the roadside produce stalls in the town of Blokland. I bought a bag of hazelnuts myself. Towards the end of the trail, you walk through a park with fruit trees that you can pick yourself, and past windmill de Valk.
Please note: part of this trail follows a cycle path (just after Tiendweg) which is currently closed. I have adjusted the trail slightly so that you can still walk it. This does make the trail a little longer than before.
5. Westbroek trail
It is funny that from the same town of Tienhoven, you can hike one of the nicest, but also one of the least nice trails (see next chapter). The Westbroek trail is the fun trail and has been renamed the Klompenpad (wooden shoes trail) Zoddenpad. I walked through the town of Tienhoven and got a free apple from a roadside stall. I walked over grass dykes and over the Bert Bospad through a swampy area. I also walked through the low peatland area the Zodden and along the Loosdrechtse Plassen. But watch out for the crayfish, which threateningly raise their claws. These animals are looking for a new territory and you may come across them in the polder areas. So don’t step on them!
The least favourite trail: Bethune trail
In my opinion, the Betune trail is the least interesting trail from the booklet. And it is even near one of the nicest trails! I must admit I was not having a good day.
I had to get off the bus two stops earlier in Maarssen because of maintenance work and of course I only found this out on the way. I then got hopelessly lost in a residential area in Maarssen (why are pedestrians not allowed to cross the ring road!). Once on the trail and an hour later than planned, it was all quite boring: straight polder roads, you walk in a kind of square (always turning right) instead of a circle and along a not very interesting part of the Loosdrechtse Plassen. I also went the wrong way, I actually made a square of it myself I should have gone to the right earlier, but the trail would not have been much better. To make matters worse, I had a migraine attack while hiking and spent the rest of the afternoon in bed at home.
Nevertheless, I would like to give this Betune polder another chance, because both the LAW (long distance trail) the Waterlinie trail and a trail from the Roots magazine booklet ‘Best trails along water’ run through the same area. That is worth a second chance!
Since then, I’ve hiked the trail described in the booklet ‘The Most Beautiful Hikes Along Water’, and I’ve had to revise my opinion somewhat. This trail actually takes in a section of the Maarsseveense Plassen, and that’s a really lovely stretch.
All trails in alphabetical order
Below are all the trails from the trail booklet in alphabetical order. For each trail you will find a link to the online location (only Dutch websites). I have also indicated the trail with the trail network intersections and sometimes there is a nice tip or special interest. Click on the link to jump straight to the trail description.
- Aetsveld trail, Weesp – 11 km
- Angstel trail, Nieuwersluis – 11 km
- Arkel trail, Gorinchem – 13 km
- Avelingen trail, Boven-Hardinxveld – 9 km
- Bethlehem trail, Wilnis – 10 km
- Bethune trail, Tienhoven – 9.5 km
- Bijleveld trail, Wilnis – 6 km
- Blokland trail, Montfoort – 8 km
- Blokweer trail, Alblasserdam – 8 km
- Bommelstein trail, Nederhorst Den Berg – 10 km
- Braassem trail, Roelofarendsveen/ Rijnsaterwoude – 11.5 km
- Cabauwse Jacobs trail, Schoonhoven – 14 km
- Demmerik trail, Vinkeveen – 12 km
- Diemerbos trail, Diemen – 9 km
- Engherkade trail, Montfoort – 12 km
- Gaasperzoom trail, Amsterdam Zuid-Oost – 14 km
- Gagel trail, Utrecht – 7 km
- Goudse Hout trail, Gouda – 8 km
- Gouwebos trail, Waddinxveen – 7 km
- Grecht trail, Woerden – 10 km
- Groenekan trail, Groenekan – 12 km
- Hitland trail, Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel – 10 km
- Kleine Balij trail, Zoetermeer – 7 km
- Krimpen trail, Krimpen aan den IJssel – 7 km
- Kromme IJssel trail, IJsselstein – 10 km
- Loetbos trail, Ouderkerk aan den IJssel – 11 km
- Middelpolder trail, Amstelveen – 10.5 km
- Molenvliet trail, Haastrecht – 13 km
- Muiderberg trail, Muiderberg – 10 km
- Noord Aa trail, Zoetermeer – 10 km
- Olmenhorst trail, Lisserbroek – 10 km
- Oostgeer trail, Hazerswoude-Dorp – 7.5 km
- Oukoop trail, Hekendorp – 9 km
- Potterskade trail, Harmelen – 9 km
- Reeuwijkse Hout trail, Reeuwijk – 11 km
- Spoordijk trail, Wilnis – 13 km
- Tempel trail, Reeuwijk – 8 km
- Tiendweg trail, Giessendam – 8 km
- Ursula trail, Nieuwveen – 5 km
- Weegje trail, Waddinxveen – 11 km
- Westbroek trail, Tienhoven – 12 km
- Willige Langerak trail, Lopik – 12 km
- Zwanburger trail, Warmond – 7 km
1. Aetsveld trail, Weesp – 11 km
- Link to trail:
- Where: Weesp, Noord-Holland
- Starting point: train station Weesp
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Noord-Holland): 83 – 82 – 81 – 65 – 66 – 63 – 64 – 76 – 75 – 74 – 73 – 72 – 71 – 56 – 67 – 68 – 69 – 65 – back to the station – 81 – 82 – 83
- Characteristics: fields, polders, rivers, waterline, forts, fortified town
- Tip: at Wandelnetwerk Noord-Holland you can find more hiking trails from this starting point.
2. Angstel trail, Nieuwersluis – 11 km
- Link to trail: Voetstappen.nl
- Where: Nieuwersluis/Breukelen, Utrecht
- Starting point: Nieuwersluis
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Utrecht): 19 – 13 – 18 – 17 – 98 – 72 – 73 – 87 – 85 – 84 – 86 – 14 – 15 – 18 – back to starting point – 13 – 19
- Tip: I myself started at Loenersloot (intersection 87) and did the most boring part along the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal first.
3. Arkel trail, Gorinchem – 13 km
- Link to trail:
- Voetstappen.nl
- a bit longer version of 16 km: Mooi Gorinchem
- Where: Gorinchem, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: train station Gorinchem
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): 40 – 38 – 33 – 35 – 47 – 48 – 64 – 58 – 42 – 44 – 41 – 40
- Characteristics: fields, polders, rivers, waterline, fortified town, windmill
4. Avelingen trail, Boven-Hardinxveld – 9 km
- Link to trail: RouteYou
- Where: Boven-Hardinxveld, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: train station Boven-Hardinxveld
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): 86 – 87 – 17 – 18 – 19 – 16 – 86
- Characteristics: fields, polders, recreational forest, rivers, dikes
- Tip: the trail is also featured in the trail guide Netwerkwandelingen Zuid-Hollands Rivierenland published by Elmar:
5. Bethlehem trail, Wilnis – 10 km
- Link to trail:
- Where: Wilnis/Mijdrecht, Utrecht
- Starting point: Camping Amstelkade (Zorgboerderij Bethlehem before)
- Intersection numbers from starting point (trail network Utrecht): 63 – 62 – 35 – 73 – 38 – 85 – 91 – 63
- Alternative trail: at intersections 91 and 62 you can choose to go straight through the farmland. To do this, turn right instead of going straight ahead. At intersection 62 you skip No. 73 and you do lose a piece along the small river Kromme Mijdrecht.
- Characteristics: fields, polders, rivers
- Special interest:
- part of the trail (between intersections 85 and 91) is closed in spring during the bird nesting season
- I dedicated a detailed report about the trail on this website (including Groene Jonker trail).
- The trail is difficult to reach by public transport; see the report above for directions from Mijdrecht. Alternatively, you can extend the trail by walking to it from TOP Eiland van Hein; to do this, follow junction points 84 – 13 to junction point 85 (across the Bovendijk).
- Tip: The Groene Jonker is a beautiful nature reserve near this trail. It is nice to add the Groene Jonker trail of Natuurmonumenten (+/- 3.5 km) to the Bethlehem trail. I have done this myself.
6. Bethune trail, Tienhoven – 9.5 km
- Link to similar trail of 11 km: Voetstappen.nl
- Where: Tienhoven, Utrecht
- Starting point: corner of streets Maarsseveense Vaart and Bethuneweg
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Utrecht): 82 – 11 – 12 – 18 – 59 – 69 – 77 – 78 – 79 – 81 – 82
- Characteristics: fields, polders, lakes, waterline, forts, ribbon/row village
- Tip: Fort Maarsseveen is close to the starting point, definitely worthwhile to have a look (also because the rest of the trail is quite boring).
7. Bijleveld trail, Wilnis – 6 km
- Link to trail: Routes in Utrecht – TOP Eiland van Hein
- Where: Wilnis, Utrecht
- Starting point: Raadhuisstraat, Wilnis
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Utrecht): 68 – 65 – 46 – 23 – 83 – 82 – 65
- Characteristics: fields, polders
- Special interest: the trail is not accessible during nesting season in spring.
8. Blokland trail, Montfoort – 8 km
- Link to trail: Routes in Utrecht
- Where: Montfoort, Utrecht
- Starting point: Kasteelplein, Montfoort
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Utrecht): 79 – 83 – 82 – 63 – 11 – 64 – 78 – 71 – 75 – 17 – 83 – 79
- Characteristics: fields, polders, ribbon/row village, windmill
- Special interest:
- It’s one of my favourite trails; I’ve even made a painting of the hike, with illustrations and a hiking map. This painting actually sparked the idea of starting a blog.
- Part of the trail is currently impassable due to poor road surface conditions on a cycle path (at junction 63). You are not officially allowed to walk or cycle there, so proceed at your own risk! An alternative is to walk from junction 63 towards Knollemanshoek (a short stretch along the closed cycle path) and then follow junctions 12 – 58 – 11. At junction 11, you’ll be back on the trail. This adds 4 km to the trail.
- Tip: there are nice product stalls along the trail and there is a regional produce farm near the trail.
9. Blokweer trail, Alblasserdam – 8 km
- Link to trail: VVV Alblasserwaard
- Where: Alblasserdam, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: Dam in Alblasserdam
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): 84 – 66 – 80 – 81 – 82 – 79 – 73 – 72 – 76 – 77 – 40 – 88 – 87 – 86 – 85 – 84
- Characteristics: fiels, polders, rivers, windmills, UNESCO World Heritage
- Tip: this trail goes along a part of the Kinderdijk windmills. Would you like to read an extensive report on these beautiful mills? Then take a look at my blog post about the long-distance Great Rivers Trail between Kinderdijk and Hendrik-Ido Ambacht.
10. Bommelstein trail, Nederhorst Den Berg – 10 km
- Link to trail: ANWB
- Where: Nederhorst Den Berg, Noord-Holland
- Starting point: Willibrordkerk, Kerkstraat, Nederhorst Den Berg
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Noord-Holland): 45 – 44 – 49 – 46 – 47 – 53 – 54 – 52 – 59 – 48 – 45
- Characteristics: fields, polders, rivers, lakes, windmills, ferry
- Tip: The creators of the hiking blog Westphilwandelt recently hiked this trail and wrote a very amusing blog about it, with beautiful photos as proof.
11. Braassem trail, Roelofarendsveen/ Rijnsaterwoude – 11.5 km
- Link to trail: Kaag en Braassem Promotie
- Where: Rijnsaterwoude/Roelofarendsveen, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: across the reformed church in Rijnsaterwoude
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): 76 – 78 – Oude Wetering ferry – 74 – 11 – 18 – 79 – Paddegat ferry – 36 – 42 – 45 – 48
- Characteristics: fields, polders, lakes, ribbon/row village, ferries
- Special interest:
- a crossing with two ferries are part of this trail. These ferries run all year round, but not on Sundays in the winter months.
- have dedicated an extensive blog post about this trail
- Tip: you can also find the trail in the trail guide Wandelen in Rijnland, published by Gegarandeerd Onregelmatig:
12. Cabauwse Jacobs trail, Schoonhoven – 14 km
- Link to trail:
- Where: Schoonhoven, Utrecht
- Starting point: Stationsplein in Schoonhoven
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Utrecht): 80 – 83 – 25 – 24 – 35 – 53 – 80
- Characteristics: fields, polders, rivers, ribbon/row village, waterline, fortified city, historical city centre
- Tip: it is already a quite a long trail, but you can add an extra trip through the historical city centre of Schoonhoven. I have done this before and have made a blog post about this wonderful hike: Great rivers trail: Ammerstol – Nieuwpoort
13. Demmerik trail, Vinkeveen – 12 km
- Link to trail: Routes in Utrecht
- Where: Vinkeveen, Utrecht
- Starting point: former railway station Vinkeveen
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Utrecht): 42 – 63 – 32 – 54 – 26 – 44 – 45 – 42
- Characteristics: fields, polders, ribbon/row village
- Tip: The Bellopad is a beautiful trail along the former railway track Haarlem – Nieuwersluis. The first part of this trail leads parallel to the Bellopad.
14. Diemerbos trail, Diemen – 9 km
- Link to trail: RouteYou
- Where: Diemen and Amsterdam Zuidoost, Noord-Holland
- Starting point: TOP Diemerbos, Muiderstraatweg, Diemen
- Intersection numbers from starting point (trail network Noord-Holland): 51 – 52 – 53 – 48 – 45 – 44 – 43 – 28 – 27 – 25 – 22 – 39, to the right along Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal until intersection 24 – 55 – 58 – 59 – 57 – 54 – 51
- Characteristics: nature near the city, forest, polders, rivers
- Tip: at Wandelnetwerk Noord-Holland you can find more trails from the starting point.
15. Engherkade trail, Montfoort – 12 km
- Link to trail: Voetstappen.nl
- Where: Montfoort/Linschoten, Utrecht
- Starting point: Kasteelplein, Montfoort
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Utrecht): 79 – 81 – 56 – 76 – 93 – 92 – 13 – 87 – 29 – 84 – 81 – 79
- Characteristics: fields, polders, estates, rivers, protected (ancient) townscape
16. Gaasperzoom trail, Amsterdam – Zuid-Oost – 14 km
- Link to trail: RouteYou
- Where: Gaasperpark, Gaasperplas, Gaasperzoom and Amsterdam Zuidoost, Noord-Holland
- Starting point: Metro station Gaasperplas in Amsterdam
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Noord-Holland): 31 – 32 – 96 – 97 – 91 – 94 – 92 – 33 – 95 – 55 – 59 – 56 – 64 – 68 – 61 – 67 – 66 – 65 – 69 – 27 – 51 – 52 – 96 – 32 – 31
- Characteristics: nature near the city, parks, lakes, polders
- Tip: do you find this trail too long? At Wandelnetwerk Noord-Holland you can find shorter trails from this starting point.
17. Gagel trail, Utrecht – 7 km
- Link to trail: Routiq
- Where: Utrecht Noord, Utrecht
- Starting point: parking lot at St. Anthoniedijk
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Utrecht): 39 – 43 – 44 – 48 – 47 – 64 – 61 – 34 – 32 – 33 – 35 – 72 – 37 – 38 – 39
- Alternative trail: from intersections 32 to 37, the trail goes through a park in Utrecht Overvecht, which is slightly different to the trail from the booklet. If you still want to do the same trail, you can turn left onto the Gageldijk just before intersection 32 and pick up the trail again later at intersection 38.
- Characteristics: nature near the city, polders, fields, waterline, forts, UNESCO World Heritage
- Special interest: Fort Ruigenhoek and Fort de Gagel are part of the New Dutch Waterline. In 2021 this waterline is added to the Unesco World Heritage List.
18. Goudse Hout trail, Gouda – 8 km
- Link to trail: Voetstappen.nl
- Where: Gouda, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: train station Gouda Goverwelle
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): 70 – 41 – 28 – 53 – 82 – 58 – 22 – 14 – 19 – 55 – 25 – 41 – 70
- Characteristics: nature near the city, lakes, recreational forest, fields, polders
19. Gouwebos trail, Waddinxveen – 7 km
- Link to trail: unfortunately, this trail cannot be found online. However, you can still hike this trail by following the intersection numbers of the trail network.
- Where: Waddinxveen, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: train station Waddinxveen
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): 52 – 62 – 36 – 75 – 23 – 64 – 67 – 52
- Characteristics: nature near the city, polders, fields, recreational forest
20. Grecht trail, Woerden – 10 km
- Link to trail:
- Voetstappen.nl
- A part of the trail is the same as Graveslootpad (Wooden shoes trail – 8 km)
- Where: Woerden, Utrecht
- Starting point: train station Woerden
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Utrecht): 87 – 89 – 46 – 48 – 21 – 53 – 28 – 28 – 45 – 26 – 24 – 23 – 18 – 99 – 35 – 94 – 93 – 33 – 34 – 36 – 47 – 32 – 37 – 46 – 89 – 87
- Characteristics: fields, polders, parks, estates, rivers, waterline, fortified town
- Special interest: a part of the trail is closed during the nesting season in spring and dogs are not allowed on this part (all year round), you also have to cross 2x electric wires and 2x narrow planks over the water. An adventurous trail, it is!
21. Groenekan trail, Groenekan – 12 km
- Link to trail: almost the same as Beukenburgerpad (Wooden shoes trail – 13 km)
- Where: Groenekan, Utrecht
- Starting point: parking lot Groenekanseweg in Groenekan
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Utrecht): 81 – 17 – 58 – 57 – 56 – 68 – 61 – 83 – 62 – 63 – 16 – 15 – 13 – 12 – 23 – 81
- Characteristics: forest, polders, fields, waterline, fortes, UNESCO World Heritage
- Special interest: my most favourite trail from the booklet!
22. Hitland trail, Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel – 10 km
- Link to trail: RouteYou
- Where: Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel/Capelle aan den IJssel, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: train station Nieuwerkerk a/d IJssel or metro station De Terp in Capelle a/d IJssel
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): 58 – 57 – 56 – 54 – 55 – 61 – 53 – 46 – 69 – 52 – 51 – 86 – 57 – 61 – 65 – 58
- Characteristics: fields, polders, marshes, recreational forest, rivers
- Special interest: if I map out the trail via the trail network, it is slightly different and also slightly longer (14 km).
23. Kleine Balij trail, Zoetermeer – 7 km
- Link to trail: RouteYou
- Where: Zoetermeer, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: train station Zoetermeer
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): 18 – 76 – 46 – 26 – 38 – 13 – turn right to intersection 34 – 38 – 26 – from here straight ahead to train station Zoetermeer (no intersections)
- Alternative trail: from intersection 26 follow 22 – 25 – 18 for an alternative trail to train station Zoetermeer.
- Characteristics: nature near the city, recreational forest, park, fields, polders
- Special interest: if I map out the trail via the trail network, it is slightly different and longer (11 km).
24. Krimpen trail, Krimpen aan den IJssel – 7 km
- Link to trail: ANWB
- Where: Krimpen aan den IJssel, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: Ouverturelaan (street) in Krimpen aan den IJssel
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): 24 – 26 – 25 – 27 – 28 – 29 – 31 – 24
- Characteristics: recreational forest, lakes, nature near the city
- Special interest: the trail is changed slightly from the one in the booklet.
25. Kromme IJssel trail, IJsselstein – 10 km
- Link to trail: Between Kromme IJssel and Lek trail (Struinen en Vorsen)
- Where: IJsselstein, Utrecht
- Starting point: parking lot Molenstraat in IJsselstein
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Utrecht): 26 – 27 – 21 – 97 – 47 – 98 – 29 – 23 – 22 – 26
- Characteristics: fields, polders, rivers, recreational forest, historical city centre
26. Loetbos trail, Ouderkerk aan den IJssel – 11 km
- Link to trail: RouteYou
- Where: Ouderkerk aan den IJssel, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: corner Dorpsstraat and Kalverstraat in Ouderkerk a/d IJssel
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): 34 – 32 – 35 – 70 – 36 – 37 – 38 – 39 – 32 – 34
- Characteristics: fields, polders, rivers, recreational forest
- Tip: to be honest I found the part through the Loetbos (Loet woodlands) from this trail quite boring. Do you like to hike an awesome trail through the Loet woodlands? Check out my extensive report about this wonderful forest!
27. Middelpolder trail, Amstelveen – 10.5 km
- Link to trail:
- ANWB
- Wandelnetwerk Noord-Holland, purple trail
- Where: Amstelveen, Noord-Holland
- Starting point: Kalfjeslaan in Amstelveen
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Noord-Holland): 78 – 72 – 71 – 76 – 61 – 67 – 66 – 19 – 17 – 18 – 63 – 62 – 64 – 65 – 74 – 70 – 78
- Special interest: on the Amsteldijk it can be very busy with traffic.
- Tip: the Amstelpark in Amsterdam is close to the trail. This park was once part of a Floriade exhibition. Very nice to add to the trail as an extra detour. This park brings back memories: I used to visit it several times with my parents when I was a kid. Back then, I really liked the sea lions and the petting zoo. Now, for me, it is mainly a beautiful park to walk through.
28. Molenvliet trail, Haastrecht – 13 km
- Link to trail: RouteYou
- Where: Haastrecht, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: TOP Haastrecht, Concordiaplein
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): 89 – 88 – 29 – 39 – 28 – 30 – 27 – 24 – 25 – 84 – 26 – 85 – 23 – 86 – 29 – skip 88 – 89
- Characteristics: polders, fields, rivers, windmills
- Special interest: this trail is not accessible during nesting season in spring.
29. Muiderberg trail, Muiderberg – 10 km
- Link to trail:
- ANWB
- Wandelnetwerk Noord-Holland, green trail
- Where: Muiderberg and Muiden, Noord-Holland
- Starting point: Brink in Muiderberg
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Noord-Holland): 50 – 57 – 59 – 17 – 16 – 18 – 12 – 11 – 13 – 79 – 78 – 51 – 50
- Characteristics: polders, fields, lakes, waterline, forts, fortified city
- Tip: more trails can be found at starting points Muiderberg and Muiden from Wandelnetwerk Noord-Holland
30. Noord Aa trail, Zoetermeer – 10 km
- Link to trail: Rondje Zoetermeerseplas – Around Zoetermeer lake (route.nl)
- Where: Zoetermeer, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: Station De Leyens in Zoetermeer
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): go along the Broeksewegwetering towards Zoetermeer lake and pick up trail at intersection 73 – 27 – 63 – 62 – towards intersection 64 and at Peggekade turn right. Then go back to Station De Leyens.
- Characteristics: nature near the city, lakes, recreational forest
- Special interest: you can only follow half of the trail via the trail network, so I would just download the trail.
31. Olmenhorst trail, Lisserbroek – 10 km
- Link to trail:
- RouteYou
- A bit different trail of 12 km (black trail): Wandelnetwerk Noord-Holland
- Starting point: crossing Lisserdijk and Lisserbroekweg in Lisserbroek
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point: 65 – walk along Lisserbroekweg until 30 – 11 – 4 – 68 – 67 – 14 – 65
- Characteristics: flower fields, fields, polders, estates
- Tip: book a picnic basket and have a nice picnic at De Olmenhorst estate. Only if I had known this… I even skipped the estate by accident. I was too focused on the tulip fields that weren’t there (or were already gone). Later on, I hiked the black trail of the Wandelnetwerk Noord-Holland, I didn’t book a picnic basket, but I did see some tulip fields!
32. Oostgeer trail, Hazerswoude-Dorp – 7.5 km
- Link to trail: RouteYou
- Where: Hazerswoude-Dorp, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: reformed church in Hazerswoude-Dorp
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): 81 – 82 – 54 – 87 – 86 – 66 – 62 – 88 – 89 – 81
- Characteristics: fields, polders, ribben/row village, tree and flower plantations
- Special interest: a part of the trail is no accessible in the nesting season in spring.
33. Oukoop trail, Hekendorp – 9 km
- Link to trail:
- Oukoopseroute van Routes in Utrecht
- Rondje Oukoop of Staatbosbeheer, small part the same as Oukoop trail
- Where: Hekendorp, Utrecht
- Starting point: Goejanverwellesluis in Hekendorp
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland/Utrecht): 15 – 56 – 99 – 47 – 79 – 89 – 77 – 44 – 27 – 13 – 59 – 89 – 79 – 47 – 99 – 98 – 86 – 15
- Characteristics: fields, polders, rivers, windmill, ribbon/row village
- Tip: check out my detailed report on this 3-star rated hike.
34. Potterskade trail, Harmelen – 9 km
- Link to trail: ANWB
- Where: Harmelen/Woerden, Utrecht
- Starting point: Kalverstraat in Harmelen (at Reformed church)
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Utrecht): 63 – 64 – 28 – 27 – 25 – 26 – 77 – 79 – 23 – 22 – 42 – 40 – 62 – 43 – 63
- Characteristics: fields, polders, lakes, rivers
- Special interest: there is an access trail from train station Woerden to get to the actual trail, follow intersection numbers 87 – 39 – 19 – 86 and pick up trail at intersection 42.
35. Reeuwijkse Hout trail, Reeuwijk – 11 km
- Link to trail: ANWB
- Where: Reeuwijk, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: parking lot Reeuwijkse Houtwal
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): 42 – 88 – 27 – 12 – 68 – 26 – 76 – 37 – 81 – 25 – 42
- Characteristics: fields, polders, lakes, recreational forest
36. Spoordijk trail, Wilnis – 13 km
- Link to trail: Routes in Utrecht
- Where: Wilnis/Vinkeveen, Utrecht
- Starting point: General cemetery in Wilnis
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Utrecht): 16 – 37 – 56 – 42 – 45 – 46 – 65 – 68 – 77 – 66 – 16
- Alternative trail: during nesting season in spring there is an alternative trail available, from intersection 46 follow 83 – 82 and pick up the trail at intersection 65.
- Characteristics: fields, polders, dikes, ribbon/row village
- Special interest: the Bijleveld trail combines the alternative trail and the trail only accessible outside nesting season.
- Tip: the Bellopad is a nice trail along the former railway line Haarlem – Nieuwersluis. Part of this trail is the same as the Bellopad.
37. Tempel trail, Reeuwijk – 8 km
- Link to a slightly different trail: RouteYou
- Where: Reeuwijk-Dorp, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: the official starting point is at the Dorpsweg in Reeuwijk-Dorp, but for this trail I took the bus stop Oudreeuwijkseweg in Reeuwijk-Brug as the starting point.
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): 7 – 13 – in Reeuwijk-Dorp walk along Kaagjesland and turn right to 68 – 31 – 31 – 21 – 52 – 35 – 19 – 13 – 13 – 27
- Characteristics: fields, polders, dikes, ribbon/row village
- Tip: I wrote an extensive report about the Tempel trail.
38. Tiendweg trail, Giessendam – 8 km
- Link to trail: Unfortunately, this trail cannot be found online, but with the help of the trail network you can still do this hike.
- Where: Giessendam, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: train station Hardinxveld-Giessendam
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): 70 – 76 – 78 – 44 – 43 – 80 – 70
- Characteristics: fields, polders, rivers, ribbon/row village
39. Ursula trail, Nieuwveen – 5 km
- Link to trail: RouteYou
- Where: Nieuwveen, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: Dorpsstraat in Nieuwveen
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): 58 – 59 – 82 – 83 – 84 – 58
- Characteristics: fields, polders, dikes
- Special interest: I dedicated a blogpost to this trail.
40. Weegje trail, Waddinxveen – 11 km
- Link to trail: Voetstappen.nl
- Where: Waddinxveen, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: train station Waddinxveen
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): 52 – 62 – 21 – 83 – 45 – 51 – 75 – 63 – 14 – 45 – 83 – 61 – 74 – 77 – 54 – 53 – 35 – 36 – 62 – 52
- Characteristics: nature near the city, fields, polders, rivers
41. Westbroek trail, Tienhoven – 12 km
- Link to almost the same trail: Zoddenpad (Wooden shoes trail – 13 km).
- Where: Tienhoven, Utrecht
- Starting point: at Dutch Reformed church
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Utrecht): 5 – 76 – 77 – 78 – 23 – 39 – 13 – 67 – 66 – 73 – 74 – 75
- Characteristics: fields, polders, marshes, lakes, ribbon/row village
- Special interest: one of the nicest trails from the booklet!
- Tip: visit regional museum Vredegoed to learn about the history of the peasant life in this regio.
42. Willige Langerak trail, Lopik – 12 km
- Link to trail: Routes in Utrecht
- Where: Lopik/Willige Langerak, Utrecht
- Starting point: M.A. Reinaldaweg in Lopik
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Utrecht): 13 – 12 – 21 – 22 – 87 – 21 – 12 – 13
- Characteristics: fields, polders, dikes, rivers
- Special interest: I wrote an extensive report about the Willige Langerak trail.
43. Zwanburger trail, Warmond – 7 km
- Link to trail: zwanburgerroute.nl
- Where: Warmond, Zuid-Holland
- Starting point: Gemeentehaven in Warmond
- Intersection numbers to follow from starting point (trail network Zuid-Holland): 39 – 25 – 41 – 01 – 38 – 37 – 39
- Characteristics: fields, polders, lakes, ferry
- Special interest:
- The ferry De Heere Schouten only departures from March/April until the end of September (so not in the winter months), waiting times may be up to 45 minutes. Check the website in advance for departure days and times.
- I made an extensive report about this trail on this website.
What to do next?
What am I going to do next, since I have finished the ANWB trail booklet? I am not yet finished with the Green Heart, it is big enough that I have not yet seen everything. I’m currently working my way along the Groene Hartpad (Regional Trail 12) and have actually almost finished it (just two sections to go). Once I’ve completed this trail, I’ll post a review on this site.
There’s also the trail guide The Most Beautiful Network hikes in the Green Heart, published by Elmar. I bought this guide, and it features a slightly different selection of hikes to the ones I’ve already done. So, for the time being, I’ve got plenty of hiking options.
As I was born in the Green Heart – in Vinkeveen, to be precise – this region will always hold a special place in my heart. It might sound a bit corny, but it’s true!
It’s turned out to be quite a long blog post, but I hope fellow hikers will find this information useful when planning their hike in the Green Heart.
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