Venneperhout: wonderful walks in Nieuw-Vennep

In the middle of what used to be the Haarlemmermeer, you will find Venneperhout. A young park forest, which Staatsbosbeheer maintains well. Nature is still developing, but you can already discover a lot here. For example, do you come early in the morning? Then you have a chance to see partridges, foxes, kestrels and hobbies! For hiking enthusiasts, this place is a real treat: Venneperhout offers many different hiking trails.
Man runs in Venneperhout nature reserve Source: visithaarlemmermeer.nl

Old element in young nature

Where the water of the Haarlemmermeer used to flow, you can now see a beautiful polder forest. It is a varied park forest on the edge of Nieuw-Vennep, with beautiful rough areas. The young park forest has a striking old element: the 500 El Boom. After the Haarlemmermeer was drained, arable farming started. Trees were planted in the middle of the plots, which offered a sheltered place to the farm workers. Thanks to Staatsbosbeheer, one such place has been preserved. Here you can rest for a while and have a nice picnic during your walk.

5 Colored walking routes

Venneperhout is a great place to walk. You can choose from 5 routes of different distances. The routes start in Nieuw-Vennep and all go through Venneperhout. Via the purple route 'Kleintje Venneperhout' you walk over young lanes and winding paths. The blue 'Ommetje Slingerpad' takes you to the western part of the area. Let yourself be surprised after every bend during this route! The red-coloured 'Landlevenroute' goes to the ends of the park forest. Walk this route and get a complete impression of the park forest. The orange 'IJ-tocht Ommegang' is a somewhat longer walk. This connects the blue and the green: the Lentepark and the Zomerpark in the Getsewoud district with the quieter places in the forest of Zwaansbroek. The Olmenhorst is of course a must in this region. The black 'Olmenhorstroute' is a bit more challenging. The colour already gives it away: it is a long walk. You come across the fields of the Elisabeth Hoeve and through the orchards of the Olmenhorst estate. You can go to both for groceries or to rest for a while. Please note: this route cannot be walked during the fruit harvest season between August 1 and November 1.

Dog and hiker in the Venneperhout nature reserve Source: visithaarlemmermeer.nl
Venneperhout information board Source: visithaarlemmermeer.nl

Walk the 8

One of the walking routes in Venneperhout is shaped like a figure 8. The walk starts exactly at the intersection. If you walk the entire route, you will be 16 kilometers on your way. Do you choose one of the loops? Then your walk is 8 kilometers. You walk through the Venneperhout park forest, but also along water features, through the forest and across open plains. Along the way you climb a number of viewing hills. A beautiful winding creek has been dug in the center of this section. You walk along both sides of this creek. You alternate paved paths with rugged nature. And you wander through the quiet Meerbos in Zwaansbroek on paved narrow paths. Experiencing nature is paramount here! You can find the route here.

Accessibility 

The roads and paths in the Venneperhout are mostly paved. This makes the park easily accessible for people in wheelchairs. Along the routes there are tree trunks and benches to rest on. 

Restaurants

On the edge of Venneperhout, on the corner of the IJweg-Getsewoutweg in Nieuw-Vennep, lies the Venneper Lodge. Here you can enjoy artisanal pancakesn, lunches, high tea and various meat and fish dishes. The Lodge is open every day of the week.