As a novice birdwatcher or birdwatcher, you naturally want to see as many different birds as possible. You often start by birdwatching around your house, but soon you want to see more unusual birds. The most popular birding areas in the Netherlands, such as the Wadden Islands and the Oosterschelde National Park, offer a rich experience for birdwatchers.
You may have already noticed that birdwatching is an incredibly addictive hobby.
In the overview below, you can find several interesting spots for birdwatching in every Dutch province. If you're also interested in birdwatching on holiday, we'll also explain where and how to find the best spots abroad for birdwatching with binoculars .
Introduction
Birdwatching: The best places in the Netherlands (per province)
As Dutch birdwatchers, we're lucky. Our country is rich in water, so you'll find plenty of excellent birdwatching spots in nature, especially in prime areas like the Haringvliet and the Oosterscheldekering storm surge barrier. These areas are home to numerous bird species, making them ideal for both nature photography and birdwatching. In the overview below, we'll tell you what we consider to be the best spots for a day of birdwatching in each province.
Groningen
Groningen boasts beautiful nature reserves where all kinds of birds feel at home. If you'd like to go birdwatching with binoculars, this province offers plenty of opportunities. Lauwersmeer National Park is fantastic, where you can spot the enormous white-tailed eagle, for example . But there's much more to fly and breed in this area. The grassy areas are beloved by waterfowl such as the Eurasian wigeon and the barnacle goose . Thousands of geese make this area a popular wintering ground, which also attracts many bird enthusiasts.
Central Groningen is also a great place for birdwatching, for example in the Kropswolderbuitenpolder or 't Roegwold in Schildwolde . Birdwatching enthusiasts should start near the Knuppelpad , as there's so much to see there.
Another great spot for birdwatching is the Slochtermeenteweg in Luddeweer . Bluethroats , bearded tits , spotted crakes, and sedge warblers can be seen in the reeds. You can also spot birds of prey here. You might see the Marsh Harrier, the Hen Harrier , and even a Northern Hawk might fly into your lens.
Friesland
Pristine coastlines and nature parks, combined with primeval forests, heathlands, and a diverse range of terrains. The Frisian countryside offers ample opportunities for a day of birdwatching. In autumn, you can also enjoy the impressive flocks of starlings migrating over the landscape.
Around the Frisian village of Twijzel, you'll find the Twijzelermieden**, the largest bocage landscape in Western Europe. No fewer than 240 bird species live here . This is remarkable, as the Netherlands alone boasts some 500 bird species . In spring, you'll encounter many songbirds, and the adjacent meadows teem with meadow birds.
So if you want to go birdwatching with binoculars, the province of Friesland is a good option. You'll encounter the Black-tailed Godwit , Common Snipe , and White-tailed Eagle here, but other birds can also be spotted here, such as the Common Kestrel , Bearded Tit , and the Caspian Tern .
Drenthe
Birdwatching in Drenthe is an excellent idea. Great egrets can be observed here during the winter months. The Drenthe landscape is made up of fields, peatlands interspersed with sandy soils, and canals. All the ingredients are there for birdwatching.
The Fochteloërveen is highly recommended . This spot is known among birdwatchers as a breeding ground for cranes . Several pairs can be found in this peat bog every year. With a bit of luck, you can also spot birds of prey here , such as the impressive short-toed eagle .
The Drents-Friese Wold is the largest contiguous forest area in the Netherlands after the Hoge Veluwe National Park. It offers beautiful changes from peatlands to drifting sands and from heathland to marshland, and is well worth a look through binoculars. Birds you might encounter include the European Honey Buzzard , the Eurasian Coot , and the Black Woodpecker .
Overijssel
The best place to go birdwatching in Overijssel is the Sallandse Heuvelrug or the Weerribben-Wieden , the two national parks in this province. Another interesting location for birdwatchers is the Marker Wadden , a new island area in the Markermeer lake created for nature restoration. Birdwatchers can easily spot birds here with their binoculars.
The species you see there change with the seasons. Breeding birds return from April to around June, especially marsh birds like the Black Tern , Marsh Harrier , and Purple Heron . In winter, you can spot other birds, such as the Northern Hawk or Common Buzzard .
Gelderland
Within the province of Gelderland lies the largest nature reserve in the Netherlands: Hoge Veluwe National Park . Countless birds have taken up residence in this area, from the Tree Pipit to the Redstart , the Spotted Flycatcher , the Cuckoo , the Crossbill , the Redpoll , and the Nightjar . Species you certainly can't see everywhere, but you can in the Veluwe. Another important area for birdwatchers is the Nieuwkoopse Plassen , where thousands of birds, including geese and ducks, spend the winter.
The Gelderland landscape offers birdwatchers even more opportunities for birdwatching. Near the German border lies Bergherbos (Beek), a forest where you can not only enjoy a lovely walk but also have a chance of spotting a yellowhammer , hawfinch , raven , or one of the other bird species.
Flevoland
Even in the youngest province of the Netherlands, birdwatchers can indulge themselves. The Reeuwijkse Plassen in South Holland are an important nature reserve where birdwatchers can see a wide variety of birds, both in summer and winter. Rare species hibernate there during the winter months , and the sparse vegetation makes it easy to spot birds with binoculars. Birds you can spot there include the white-tailed eagle , the waxwing , and the smew .
There are observation huts and screens at the Oostvaardersplassen and Lepelaarplassen lakes , so it's not uncommon to see multiple eagles feeding. The Oostvaardersdijk is a great spot for birdwatching, and you can often see a white-tailed eagle flying overhead.
North Holland
The province of North Holland boasts no fewer than three coasts (the North Sea, the Wadden Sea, and the IJsselmeer) and an abundance of water features on land. North Holland is an excellent province for birdwatching.
Good places for bird watching are the Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes, Camperduin and the Schoorlse Dunes , the Hoorneboegse Heide, Naardermeer, Landje van Geijsel and, not to forget, the Wadden Island of Texel.
Every spring, you can find dozens of breeding spoonbills high in the De Liede swamp forest near Haarlem. And the Balgzand near Den Helder is a true paradise for birdwatchers , home to thousands of wading birds.
South Holland
The province of South Holland boasts a diverse landscape. Dunes to the west and the A lblasserwaard to the east , Krimpenerwaard with meadows as far as the eye can see, and of course, the Biesbosch National Park, one of Europe's largest freshwater marshes. It's a paradise for exploring and birdwatching with binoculars. South Holland is also home to some of the most popular birdwatching areas in the Netherlands, highly prized by birdwatchers for their rich biodiversity and variety of bird species.
Birdwatching is possible everywhere in South Holland, even between the bustling harbors of Europoort and Maasvlakte . The "MaVla" is located along the coast, so many migratory birds will stop here to spend the day and eat their fill. Many rare birds , such as the Red-breasted Flycatcher, the Barred Warbler , and the Bearded Warbler, can be seen here.
Other excellent birdwatching spots include the Groene Jonker near Zevenhuizen . This is a water-rich nature reserve with a large pond, lush reed beds, and wet grasslands. Here you'll find species such as the Spoonbill , Great Crested Grebe , and Common Shelduck , and sometimes even the Little Crake , Water Rail , or Black-winged Stilt .
Utrecht
From peatlands to vast forests, the landscape of the province of Utrecht is incredibly diverse, making it a fascinating habitat for birds. In these areas, you can spot rare birds that are less common elsewhere in the Netherlands. If you're interested in birdwatching, there are several excellent birding areas.
The Amerongse Berg lies 69 meters above sea level , so you'll encounter many bird species there. Areas like the Blauwe Kamer near Rhenen, the Eempolder near Eemnes, or the lowland peat bog of the Westbroekse Zodden also offer ample opportunities for birdwatching with binoculars. You might encounter a purple heron , kingfisher , or bittern , for example. The bittern , the smallest heron in Europe, has also been sighted in this province.
North Brabant
Brabant is rich in beautiful landscapes where all kinds of birds can be spotted. Many bird species, including rare ones, find their habitat here. For example, you can go birdwatching with binoculars in the Mastbos forest near Breda. There you'll find several landscape elements: coniferous forest, deciduous forest, fens, and heathland. As a result, you can also find a diverse bird population. You'll find almost every woodpecker known to the Netherlands here. The green woodpecker, black woodpecker, lesser spotted woodpecker, middle spotted woodpecker, and great spotted woodpecker, among others , breed in this area.
But of course, there are many more places in Brabant where you can go birdwatching. The De Groote Heide nature park and Het Leenderbos are also excellent spots for birdwatching. The European Stonechat and Woodlark breed there, as do the Nightjar .
Another interesting spot for birdwatchers in North Brabant is De Groote Peel National Park , where at least 100 different bird species breed. The Noordpolder near Ossendrecht is also a gem. You'll find many waterfowl there, including the Gadwall , Shoveler , Mallard , and the occasional Garganey . If you go birdwatching here, you also have a chance of spotting birds of prey, such as the Northern Hawk , Sparrowhawk , Buzzard , Hobby, and Honey Buzzard .
Zealand
The province of Zeeland is known for its water. Besides the sea, you'll also find plenty of inland waterways. Not only have meadow and water birds chosen Zeeland as a breeding ground, but you can also spot reed birds, woodland birds, and, not to forget, birds of prey in the best areas.
Interesting hotspots abound. In the Blikken area near Nieuwvliet, you'll find two beautiful birdwatching huts. While birdwatching, you can expect to see avocets , ruffs , shorebirds , sandpipers , curlews , and many other wading birds . Sparrowhawks and goshawks prey on the songbirds in the area. Above the water and meadows, you can see buzzards and marsh harriers, among others , flying. There is water in the area, so be aware of this.
Other excellent birdwatching spots include the Brouwersdam near Ouddorp and the Dijkwater Creek Area between Dreischor and Sirjansland. The Neeltje Jans is also a great spot for birdwatching with binoculars. Its unique location at the mouth of the Oosterschelde attracts an abundance of wading birds, and during migration periods, you might also encounter some rarer birds.
Limburg
The rolling hills of Limburg are unique in the Netherlands. The landscape varies from hedgerows and forests to small fields, interspersed with meandering rivers. This allows you to see birds in Limburg unlike those found in other provinces. This region also boasts a wealth of unusual birds, making it an attractive destination for birdwatchers. Some bird species are even best seen in Limburg, such as the Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Short-billed Treecreeper, and the Eagle Owl.
The Hamster Reserve atop the Margraten plateau is the perfect place to use binoculars to spot birds like the Yellowhammer or the Corn Bunting . If you'd like to see the Eagle Owl , the best place to visit is Sint-Pietersberg near Maastricht. This owl is one of the world's largest owl species. However, spotting the Eagle Owl while birdwatching will be challenging due to its camouflage.
Birdwatching Tips
Birdwatching is a fun and relaxing activity. Here are some tips for birdwatching in the Netherlands:
- Visit national parks and nature reserves such as Lauwersmeer National Park or the Biesbosch for a wide variety of birds.
- Look for bird hides and observation towers for a good spot to observe birds.
- Go early in the morning or late in the evening, the best times for bird watching.
- Bring binoculars or a camera for close-up viewing.
- Be quiet and patient so as not to disturb the birds.
Special birdwatching abroad
Good information about birdwatching locations abroad can be difficult to find. Birdplaces.eu is a platform where birdwatchers worldwide share their knowledge about the best birdwatching spots.
Got enough tips and ideas for a day out? Check out our range of binoculars for birdwatchers here.
