Construction of the Zuid-Kennemerland walking network in full swing

The construction of the Zuid-Kennemerland walking network started in mid-August. The first route markings are already visible in the area. With more than 450 kilometers of routes, this will be the largest regional route network within the North Holland Walking Network. A varied green landscape, sandwiched between cities, villages and the extensive coast, from Zandvoort to the west side of Amsterdam and from Velsen to Nieuw-Vennep.
First route markings Walking network Zuid-Kennemerland

Extensive hiking network
The new Zuid-Kennemerland walking network will be located in the municipalities of Haarlem, Haarlemmermeer, Velsen, Heemstede, Bloemendaal and Zandvoort. The Routebureau van Recreation Noord-Holland coordinates the construction of the extensive route network, part of the province-wide Hiking Network Noord-Holland. The routes are signposted in two directions with sustainable route markers, colored arrows and choice point numbers. Almost 3500 choice points and route markings must be placed for the new walking network. In addition, there will be nine Tourist Transfer Points in the region. These TOPs are striking green-blue information columns with regional information and cycling, walking and sailing routes in the area.

Opening walking network in spring 2023
Contractors have been installing the first route markings for a month now. Colored arrows are already visible in various places in the urban area of ​​the municipality of Haarlem, Haarlemmermeer and Heemstede. Last week, the first route poles at Buitenplaats Elswout and Landgoed Koningshof went into the ground. Next week, nature reserve Wurmenveld is on the schedule. The design work in the walking area is expected to be completed at the beginning of 2023. This is followed by control walks and adjustments to the website and app of Wandelnetwerk Noord-Holland. The Zuid-Kennemerland walking network will open in the spring of 2023.

One-way dune routes
New in North Holland is that the existing walking routes in the dune areas of PWN, Natuurmonumenten, Landscape North Holland and Staatsbosbeheer have also been included in the walking network, including recognizable markings from Walking Network North Holland. These site management organizations requested that attention be paid to spreading visitors on busy days. Therefore, the direction of most dune routes is only in one direction. The addition of the dune area makes the network in Zuid-Kennemerland even more attractive for walkers. The new hiking region also connects to surrounding hiking networks such as Midden-Kennemerland, Amsterdam Amstelland and Duin- en Bollenstreek. Lovers of longer walks can indulge themselves.

Cooperation and financing
The Province of North Holland has wanted a province-wide walking network for years. With the construction of this network, the provincial hiking map is almost completely colored. The total costs for the Zuid-Kennemerland hiking network amount to approximately € 630.000. The province of North Holland finances € 351.600 of the realization costs of the network, including TOPs. The municipalities of Haarlem, Haarlemmermeer, Zandvoort, Bloemendaal, Velsen and Heemstede jointly pay the remaining costs: € 278.400.