De Weerribben Wieden

Did you know that the largest continuous low-moor fen area in Northwest Europe is located in the Netherlands? The famous village of ‘Giethoorn’ is even part of it! Tucked away in the heart of the province of Overijssel lies Weerribben-Wieden National Park. Besides the fact that nature in this part of the Netherlands is breathtakingly beautiful, it’s also a great getaway for people looking for an oasis of peace. You can certainly relax and completely unwind here. Surrounded by marshlands, picturesque villages, and many waterways and lakes, Weerribben-Wieden National Park is the place to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life.

About Weerribben-Wieden National Park

Weerribben-Wieden National Park was established in 1992 and didn’t just appear naturally. The more than 10,000 hectares of swampland were created because peat cutters worked the land for centuries until eventually only marshland, reed beds, and waterways remained. Peat extraction was incredibly important for centuries because people used it to heat their homes. The history of Weerribben is therefore deeply rooted in the peat industry, and this is still visible today in the many canals, lakes, and waterways that wind through the National Park. Large parts of the area were drained, creating the marshlands and reed beds. This has resulted in a diverse flora and fauna system that has now become a protected nature reserve.

When is the best time to visit Weerribben-Wieden?

Weerribben-Wieden National Park is not yet known to the masses, making it a lovely quiet place to spend time even in summer. Although Giethoorn is part of this park and can get very busy in the summer, you can bypass the crowds due to the size of the park. Villages like Blokzijl, Sint Jansklooster, Kalenberg, and Ossenzijl are less well-known and just as fun to visit. While you can also enjoy a relaxing break in winter, Weerribben-Wieden is naturally at its most beautiful in spring and summer.

Atmosphere of Weerribben-Wieden

Weerribben-Wieden might not immediately ring a bell, but if we mention Giethoorn, you’ve probably been there or seen photos of it. Giethoorn is part of Weerribben-Wieden National Park and gives a good impression of what the park looks like. However, Weerribben has even more to offer, and below you’ll find a small impression of the beautiful nature and surroundings.

Things to do in Weerribben-Wieden National Park

The versatile landscape of Weerribben is perfect for various outdoor activities. From relaxing outings to more challenging and active pursuits, the National Park offers it all. From nature lovers to birdwatchers, water sports enthusiasts, hikers, cyclists, families, and so on. To help you get started, we’ve gathered a few fun activities to do during your stay in Weerribben-Wieden.

Rent a boat in Weerribben

Weerribben is known for its many waterways for a reason, and the perfect way to discover this park is from the water. Renting a boat at Weerribbenbootjehuren.nl is a great idea. Using a whisper boat, you glide silently over the waterways to become completely one with nature. It’s the ideal way to explore the park and behold all the natural beauty. Who knows, you might even spot a cormorant or other marsh birds!

Walking & cycling in Weerribben

Of course, it’s also possible to discover this nature reserve via the most beautiful walking and cycling routes. In fact, you can hike to your heart’s content here as it’s a true paradise for fans of watery nature areas. All seasons are suitable for this, each offering its own charm. If you’re going for a walk with children, the boardwalk path or the ‘boot path’ (laarzenpad) are very fun to explore. The ANWB cycling route in Weerribben is a route of no less than 49.5 km that takes you past picturesque villages, vast reed beds, narrow dikes, and waterways. For a complete overview of all cycling and walking routes in Weerribben, look here.

Boat excursion to the Grote Otterskooi

The Grote Otterskooi, also known as the duck decoys in the Wieden, is the largest duck decoy in all of Europe. The Otterskooi stretches over no less than 30 hectares of land and is divided into 4 duck decoys. While duck decoys were used in the past to catch wild ducks, today they only serve for excursions and bird banding. Despite this, the duck decoys are still popular with many types of birds and sometimes even otters! To take a look inside such a duck decoy yourself, the Wieden visitor center organizes special boat excursions.

Canal cruise Weerribben

Would you rather be sailed around instead of steering a boat yourself? Then a canal cruise in Weerribben is the ideal solution. Under the guidance of an expert guide, you’ll explore all the untouched spots of the national park. During the cruise, you have a chance to spot many birds and perhaps even otters. There are various cruises in Weerribben-Wieden that you can book. Which cruise suits you best depends on what you would like to see. A handy overview of all cruises can be found here.

Canoeing in Weerribben

For the adventurers among us, renting a canoe is the way to fully immerse yourself in nature. While paddling through the water, there’s a good chance you’ll be just an arm’s length away from an otter. You can decide for yourself when to take a break and which ditches, lakes, and creeks you want to explore. A canoe is quite narrow, allowing you to fit through everywhere and reach places you can’t visit with a boat. Weerribben is called a canoe paradise for a reason.

Paddleboarding in Weerribben-Wieden National Park

Are you a sporty type? Then we recommend renting a SUP (stand-up paddleboard) during your stay in Weerribben. Paddleboarding is a great way to be active while also enjoying nature and the nice weather. The calm waters in Weerribben are well-suited for this. Are you a beginner? Keep in mind that it can be quite tiring. We recommend choosing a shorter route. There are guided SUP tours in Weerribben, but there’s also the option to rent a board yourself.

Climb the Sint Jansklooster water tower

If you’re in Weerribben-Wieden anyway, a visit to the water tower in Sint Jansklooster shouldn’t be missed. The water tower can be seen from almost every point in the Weerribben-Wieden National Park. After climbing the 45.7m high tower, you’ll be rewarded with a wide view over the national park. It gives you a different perspective than from the ground and shows you what a huge mass of water used to be present in this area.

Pay a visit to Giethoorn

Under the motto ‘while you’re there anyway,’ you can’t skip Giethoorn. If you’ve discovered Weerribben-Wieden National Park a bit by now, you’ll realize that Giethoorn is part of the park! Giethoorn is the image of the history of this area and is well worth a visit. Are you really coming for the peace and quiet and visiting the park in summer? Then we recommend visiting Giethoorn in the evening. That’s when most tourists and day-trippers are on their way home. This way, you can still enjoy the picturesque village in a relaxed and peaceful manner.

Museum Schoonewelle

A fascinating place where nature and people are brought together in an artistic and educational way. Museum Schoonewelle is a fun activity for both adults and children. There are permanent and rotating collections ranging from nature photography to impressive collections about the history of this area. Through diorama and display case presentations, the versatility of the flora and fauna of this nature reserve is brought to life. It’s an educational and interactive museum that also has scavenger hunts for children.

Parking Weerribben-Wieden

With a vast area of more than 100 square kilometers, there are plenty of options for parking your car in Weerribben-Wieden National Park. Which parking lot or spot is most convenient depends on the destination you want to visit. For example, is your starting point the Buitencentrum Weerribben? Then you can easily park your car in the large parking lot at the center. Most boat rental companies, B&Bs, hotels, and campsites have their own parking lot where you can park. Want to visit the center of Blokzijl? Keep in mind that there are a limited number of parking spaces in the center. It’s best to park your car in one of the parking lots on the edge of the center.

It depends on the time of year whether there are enough parking spaces available. In spring, you can usually find a spot quite easily, whereas in summer it can become a challenge to find a parking space. Especially when you arrive in the middle of the day in Giethoorn, for example. We recommend checking in advance what the best parking option is for your intended destination.

By public transport from Amsterdam to Weerribben-Wieden

Do you want to visit Weerribben from Amsterdam and are you traveling by public transport? That’s certainly possible. Since Weerribben-Wieden is a large, vast area spread across the provinces of Overijssel and Flevoland, we can’t provide one specific location to navigate to.

If you’re traveling from Amsterdam to Giethoorn by public transport, for example, keep in mind that you’ll be on the road for at least 2 hours. Depending on the location you want to travel to, the travel time may be shorter or longer than the example above. For current travel times and the fastest route options, you can use the 9292ov app.

Where exactly is Weerribben-Wieden National Park located

As mentioned earlier, Weerribben-Wieden National Park is spread across the provinces of Flevoland and Overijssel. Villages such as Giethoorn, Blokzijl, Kalenberg, Sint Jansklooster, and Ossenzijl are part of this national park. If you look at the map, you’ll mainly see many lakes and ditches, which the National Park is famous for.

Restaurants & Cafés Weerribben-Wieden

Although there are many good cafes and restaurants to be found in Weerribben, we’ve listed a few favorites below!

Theeschenkerij de Wieden (Sint Jansklooster): this is the ultimate place to settle down after your activity and enjoy delicious homemade treats. Local products are used as much as possible. From a lovely high tea to shared dining.

Restaurant de Wieden (Giethoorn): local dishes with a modern twist are central at restaurant de Wieden. This restaurant, located in Giethoorn, has a beautiful terrace right on the water.

Café van Ens (Blokzijl): for a real old-Dutch atmosphere, you’ve come to the right place. This charming café in the heart of Blokzijl has a beautiful view of the water and the streets of this small town.

Café de Weerribben (Kalenberg): this cozy café is the perfect starting point for a beautiful walk or bike ride through Weerribben-Wieden. The café is located in a former farmhouse and perfectly fits the atmosphere of the surroundings.

Restaurant de Kluft (Ossenzijl): restaurant de Kluft is part of the De Kluft recreation center, where you can also rent camping pitches for tents, caravans, and campers. The interior of the restaurant is a nod to nature and the environment in which it is located.

A few more nice spots include de Witte Hoeve, Drie Musketiers, Café de Sluus, De Eetkamer, Café de Tourist, and Pannenkoekenhuis Giethoorn. For even more restaurant tips in Weerribben-Wieden, look here.

Campsites and holiday parks in Weerribben-Wieden

Weerribben-Wieden National Park is the place for lovers of nature and tranquility. The park is well-suited for a weekend or midweek getaway, or even a longer holiday in your own country. There are various campsites, holiday parks, luxury hotels, and bed and breakfast accommodations to be found. There’s something for everyone!

Villapark Weerribben, also known as Roompot’s Paasloo holiday park, is pre-eminently the place for those looking for a bit more luxury in the middle of nature. Its central location in the heart of Weerribben-Wieden National Park makes Vakantiepark de Weerribben an excellent base for a stay. With their thatched roofs, the villas are fully in harmony with the surroundings. There are various accommodations for rent, for groups of 4 people up to groups of 24 people.

A few more beautiful holiday parks in Weerribben include Waterpark Belterwiede in Wanneperveen, Vakantiepark Giethoorn, Vakantiepark Waterstaete, and holiday park ‘t Akkertien.

In addition to the many accommodations, there are also several campsites to be found in Weerribben. Camping by the water in Weerribben-Wieden is possible in various places. There are several larger and small-scale camping spots for rent. One of the nicest campsites located by the water is Recreatiecentrum de Kluft. This is a campsite with a marina and is located in the middle of Weerribben-Wieden National Park. The camping pitches are paved and have good sanitary facilities. Since it’s a recreation center, there are also all kinds of other facilities, such as a restaurant, snack bar, and bread service. De Kluft offers camping spots for tents, caravans, and campers.

Minicamping De Houtwal is a small-scale campsite on an idyllic country lane between hedgerows. Nature and outdoor life combined with alpacas are central here. De Houtwal is the place for relaxation. You can rent furnished glamping tents, but also your own camping spot. It’s a unique location away from the crowds.

A few more fine campsites in Weerribben are Camping d’hof in Giethoorn, Camping Krolsbergen, Vakantiepark Cafun de Eikenhof, Natuurcamping de Landerije Basse, Camping de Oldenhof, and Camping de Schaarkamp

It doesn’t matter whether you choose the conviviality of a campsite, a luxury holiday park, or a comfortable and off-the-grid nature house. As long as you’re surrounded by the nature of this beautiful area, you can completely unwind.