Discover Heiloo: forests, country estates and pilgrimage routes

An over 300-year-old lime tree on the Kattenberg, winding paths in the Heilooërbos and several country estates shape Heiloo. There are also pilgrimage routes, museums and places with a history of their own. This lets you tailor your stay to nature, culture or activity, choosing a different focus for each outing.

Forests, country estates and trails

Landgoed Nijenburg and the Heilooërbos are open to the public from sunrise to sunset. Check the access rules before your visit. In the Heilooërbos, you’ll find winding paths, old trees and unexpected views. A more than 300-year-old lime tree stands on the Kattenberg. There is also a playing field and picnic benches in the Kattenberg area, making it a good choice for a family outing.

The country estates also reveal different traces of the landscape and its history. Landgoed Ter Coulster includes an old wooded park with meadows, a tea pavilion, an ice cellar and old shifting dunes. Boerderij Nijenburg is a historic stolp farm complex on the estate: it was built around 1900 and is recognised as a municipal monument. Those who want to combine nature with traces of historic architecture will find different aspects of the local landscape here.

There are walking routes with different themes to choose from. A family-friendly walking route leads through the woods of the historic Landgoed Nijenburg. The Landgoederenroute passes through the Willibrordus, Ter Coulster and Nijenburg estates in Heiloo. A pilgrimage route runs through Heiloo and Egmond, following in the footsteps of the Irish monk Willibrord. The options therefore have clearly distinct focuses: woodland, a series of country estates or a pilgrimage route with historical connections.

Het Maalwater is a nature and recreation area on the north-western edge of Heiloo; you can go canoeing on the Maalwater. This adds an activity on the water to the walks and hikes. If you’d rather explore by bike, cycling routes start at the Verhalenkamer. Walking expeditions also set off from there; Landgoed Willibrordus is also part of the walking junction network.

History, museums and culture

The Witte Kerk stands on the site where the Frisians held tribal assemblies around the year 700. The church has been listed in the Dutch Rijksmonumenten register since 1967. It regularly hosts concerts, exhibitions and lectures. Here, the historic site and today’s cultural programme come together, so a visit need not be limited to a single theme.

At the Archeologisch Museum Baduhenna, you can see a collection built up over a hundred years of archaeological research in Heiloo and the surrounding area. The Toverlantaarn Museum Heiloo has more than 400 magic lanterns and related light sources dating from 1720 to 1920. A permanent exhibition tells the story of Heiloo. These attractions each have a different focus: archaeological finds, historic image projection and the history of the town.

Landgoed Willibrordus was once a psychiatric institution and is now a cultural site with museums, the Verhalenkamer and the Cultuurkoepel. The VVV-Heiloo information point is located in the Verhalenkamer on the grounds. The Onze Lieve Vrouw ter Nood sanctuary covers six hectares and includes the Genadekapel, the Runxputte, also known as the Mariabron, and a prayer and reflection park. It is considered the largest Marian pilgrimage site in the Netherlands. The first chapel was almost certainly built towards the end of the 14th century.

More ideas for your time in Heiloo

Het Oesdom serves coffee, tea and treats, and has a children’s playground. You can download walking and cycling routes at the entrance using a QR code. At Gemeentebos, visitors can see animals in a relaxed setting. If you’d like to swim, the Het Baafje outdoor pool has a 50-metre pool. It operates seasonally; check the current opening hours before your visit.

There are also specific places to visit for other leisure interests: Heiloo’s golf course is a 9-hole course and has held A status with the Nederlandse Golf Federatie since November 2005. There is a train service to Amsterdam from Heiloo station, as well as OV-fiets rental bikes. Heiloo has wide cycle paths along its main roads, and spacious bicycle parking facilities at the station. Journey times and train services may change, so check the current timetable before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Heiloo, Koggenland, Wervershoof, Blaricum, Schagen, Zandvoort, Haarlemmermeer, Medemblik.

Back to the main travel overview: North Holland.