I recently wrote a blog post about a winter walk that lead me and my friend Saskya from my house in Haarlem, via restaurant De Stinkende Emmer, to the beautiful estate Elswout.
Today I am taking you along on another beautiful winter walk around Haarlem. Actually; two walks in the same area, but in different circumstances.
Beautiful National Park Zuid-Kennemerland
So my friend Saskya and I went for a walk again, this time in the dunes nearby where we live. (Saskya lives in the same neighbourhood as I do.) #freighboursarethebest
The entrance we took: Bleek en Berg.
Our walk went through a vaste nature reserve, called National Park Zuid-Kennemerland.
If the sun shines, this landscape looks a bit like an African savannah.
This park has dunes, lush coastal forests and wide beaches.
Winter walk around Haarlem - Oosterplas
When we went for our walk, there was no sun that day, but at least there was no rain either.
(A-)typical fauna
In this area of forests and dunes you may encounter various animals, like european bizons, wild horses, deer and sheep.
Unfortunately we did not run into any of those.
We did meet this cute little bird; a great tit. Okay, of course we also spotted waterfowls, seagulls and ducks. But the encounter with the great tit was more personal. It followed us around for a while. #yayihaveafollower
Oosterplas
One of the showstoppers in this part of the dunes is a gorgeous lake called De Oosterplas.
Staring over the lake De Oosterplas.
Although I prefer sun-lit sceneries, I can also appreciate the gloominess and melancholic ambiance of a grey day.
Goofing around with trees
Lots of trees and tree trunks all around (duh, it’s a forest), so we had a bit of fun with them.
Now we are no mountain goats or anything like that; so much became painfully clear.
Saskya strikes some silly poses on a tree trunk.
In our defence: the trunks were very slippery, which made climbing on a tree, even one that was only 10 cm above the ground, a challenge. Really! Stop laughing! #itsnojoke
Slippery!
Wooden tipi’s.
Winterwonderland
A week later we went back to the same area. This time we were accompanied by my friend Jacqueline from Montreal, who was visiting me.
Jacqueline in the front and me behind her.
AND…it had been snowing quite heavily (for Dutch standards) the two days before.
The snow was melting already, but it was still a winter wonderland.
PLUS…the sun was shining brightly that day. A rare thing these days. #thereyouareyoushinything . The past weeks have been very wet, windy and grey.
Saskya on the left, me in the middle and Jacqueline on the sledge in the front.
De Oosterplas with snow all around
The whole scenery looked quite different from the week before.
Jacqueline and me doing some silhouette posing. #likeanegyptian
The trees were even more wet, so no climbing this time.
We decided instead to ‘lean’ on this trunk as if we were leaning on a bar. “Bartender, two champagne, please!”.
Jacqueline and me hanging at the bar. #cheers
Taking a small break at a dune top
We climbed the highest dune, which is not that high, but the snow made it slippery and thus quite tiresome. On the top you have a great view all around you, although that’s not clear on the pictures below.
Since the wooden benches were wet, Jacqueline and Saskya decided to rest a bit while seated on the fence. Don’t they look cute?
Again no bizons, wild horses, deer or sheep, but I remain hopeful; maybe next time.
Walking with friends definitely makes walking more pleasant, wildlife or not. #friendsaredabomb
How about you? Do you go for walks? Alone or with friends?
It’s amazing how snow completely changes the view, both beautiful in their way. I would be apt to start spouting poetry! - then at least you HEAR the bison, horses, sheep, etc., running away. You got some wonderful photos too. These kinds of walks are really cleansing. Great idea.
Don’t spout your poetry too loudly, else you’ll scare off any big game that’s around!
Wat geweldig foto’s! What fun you all must have had surrounded by the most beautiful scenery in the Netherlands 😉 I hope you get to see the wildlife next time!!
Thanks, Gayla!
Yes, I hope so too. I’m definitely going back there and try to spot some big game. Have to go at the right time of the day AND get lucky. We’ll see….
I’m a fan of walking when the weather permits. Normally I walk daily with the pug. I don’t mind walking with others or alone. Either way it is peaceful. For now with the winter weather I’m walking/running on the indoor treadmill. Not the same thing at all.
Love the photos you took! Especially of the bird and the lake with the deep blue sky.
Suzanne
Yeah, you have quite some restrictions with walking in wintertime, with your skin and all. Too bad. And how disciplined of you to then run on the treadmill instead; wow!
I’m happy myself with how the pics turned out. Being able to take nice pics is always a plus for me, when having to walk.