Autumn in the Netherlands is something special. The days are crisp, the air carries that refreshing chill, mornings are covered in mist, and the leaves put on a show of golds, oranges, and reds. Or it rains for a week in a row and you forget why you said you love autumn. In any case, the fall season invites you to slow down and take in the beauty of the world around you.
And, after you’ve had your share of cosy afternoons on the couch, and you start dreaming of outdoor adventures, discovering a cosy café tucked away in a quiet village, or a charming museum that invites you to learn something new, check out this list of things to choose from. The Dutch “dagje weg” mentality is alive and well, and autumn is the perfect time to take full advantage of it. Grab your rain jacket, hop on a train, and explore beautiful corners of the Netherlands during this golden season.
Best things to do in the Netherlands in autumn
Chase golden leaves in the parks
The parks are the highlight of the season. And when I say parks, I’m talking about the national parks or the small forests the Dutch call parks. The colours are simply amazing in the golden autumn sun, or beautifully muted on a misty morning, when the paths are spooky and quiet. The Netherlands has many parks and natural areas that can be visited. You can choose one of the national parks like De Hoge Veluwe and Veluwezoom in Gelderland, De Biesbosch in North Brabant, and De Alde Feanen in Friesland, or go to smaller forests and parks like Schoorlse Duinen, Bergerbos, Amsterdamse Bos, Mastbos and any other that are close to you.
Mushroom spotting
Autumn is mushroom season, and I’m a big fan of going on a mushroom hunt in the forest. When I say mushroom spotting, I mean you’re only allowed to look: it’s not allowed to pick mushrooms in the Netherlands. People go around discovering and photographing them without touching them. You can do this on your own, in any forest, or choose one of the well-known mushroom paths in various parks. In certain areas, there are guided walks for mushroom spotting, which can be a great opportunity for beginners and those who want to learn more. There are walks for kids as well.
Places to go:
• Oisterwijkse Vennen en Bossen (near Tilburg): pools, pines and a very active Natuurmonumenten visitor centre with family-friendly walks.
• Schoorlse Duinen (north of Alkmaar): dunes meet forest. Staatsbosbeheer runs excellent excursions from the Buitencentrum.
• Drents-Friese Wold or Dwingelderveld: big northern forests.
How to do it:
• Book via Natuurmonumenten, Staatsbosbeheer or IVN. Tours are usually 1.5–2 hours, often Dutch-led but very visual and welcoming.
• Expect around €7–€15 per adult; kids cheaper. Wear waterproof shoes; paths get happily squelchy.
• Bring a loupe or macro lens.
Follow the bird migration
Maybe you’re a bird lover. Then you’ll have a wonderful time going out to watch the migration, spotting all kinds of birds whose names I don’t know, but you certainly do.
Where to stand and stare:
• Oostvaardersplassen (Flevoland): take the train to Almere Oostvaarders and walk to hides around the visitor centre. Big reedbeds, big skies, big birds. Dawn and late afternoon are best.
• Lauwersmeer (Friesland/Groningen): a migration hotspot. Public transport works but a car is handy here.
• Biesbosch (Brabant/Zuid‑Holland): willows, creeks and beavers. Rent a whisper boat or kayak from Dordrecht/Drimmelen; eagles often perch on dead snags like they own the place (and they do).
• Marker Wadden (from Lelystad): a man-made bird paradise. Ferries are limited outside summer, so book ahead. Boardwalks, dunes, and flocks on fresh lagoons.
Let the wind clear your mind
Embrace the Dutch habit of uitwaaien and go out even when it’s cold and windy. Uitwaaien literally translates to “to blow out”, as in letting the wind blow through you. It’s the Dutch practice of heading outside to walk in windy weather, to clear your mind and refresh your spirit. It’s a habit I happily embraced, and my favourite place to do that is the beach. The wind biting at your cheeks, combined with the salty sea air, creates such an invigorating feeling! Where to go? Any of the beaches along the coast. They are all beautiful, wide and each with its own charm. I love going to Egmond aan Zee or Petten aan Zee, or to Texel Island, which is great for dunes and birdwatching. For an extra touch, late afternoon walks often offer dramatic skies and a truly energising atmosphere.
Go fruit picking
This is mostly apple and pear picking, but there are occasional other fruits and berries. There are a couple of pluktuinen (picking gardens) in Amsterdam and its surroundings, but there are many more across the country. Regions like the Betuwe, the Achterhoek or Zeeland are famous for their fruit orchards, but you can use this website to find the ones close to your location: Look for Pluktuinen.
Fruit picking season in the Netherlands usually runs from August to October, depending on the type of fruit. Many picking gardens also have small cafés or farm shops, so you can enjoy a coffee or a snack after picking your own apples, pears, or berries.
A few popular ones:
• Boerderij de Kikkershoek, close to Dordrecht.
• Vink Fruit Boerderij, Kraggenburg
• Phillips fruit tuin, close to Eindhoven.
• Voedsel Bos, Texel island.
Visit a pumpkin farm
In recent years, pumpkin farms have become popular in the Netherlands too, following the Halloween traditions borrowed from the USA. There are farms where you can pick your own pumpkins and markets where you can find these colourful autumn wonders.
Where to go: Pluktuik Amstelveen, Pumpkin Farm Bos in Opperdoes, The Marlequi in Warmenhuizen are only a few. Check out this list for more pumpkin farms by region. You can join events like the Pumpkin Picking Days, in Oostwold, and Pumpkin Market at Hofje van Harkstede, where you can find fun fall decorations, crafts, local stalls.
See the castles in their autumn coats
The Dutch castles might not be as amazing as the ones you can find in other countries, but they’re still beautiful and make for great dagje wegs. In autumn, they change their appearance. Moats reflect copper beeches; the mist surrounds them and courtyards smell faintly of woodsmoke and history.
Where to play lord or lady for a day
• Kasteel de Haar (Haarzuilens, near Utrecht): theatrical turrets, formal gardens, and a village that looks like it was set-designed. Train to Vleuten, pick up an OV-fiets, and pedal through lanes lined with oaks (or take the bus).
• Muiderslot (Muiden): stout, storybook fortress at the mouth of the Vecht. Easy to reach from Amsterdam or Weesp by bus; sometimes a ferry from Amsterdam runs on autumn weekends.
• Doorwerth (near Arnhem): brick beauty on the floodplains. Combine a castle visit with a river walk under ancient oaks.
• Slot Loevestein (between rivers): fortress-island vibes. Reach it via ferry from Gorinchem/Woudrichem when services run; otherwise by car. Mist here is practically a special effect.
Visit the small town fairs and markets
Along the usual weekly markets, there are harvest or farmers markets organised all around the country. Here are only a few:
• Autumn in the fields in Drenthe
• Stoofperenfeest in Ruinerwold (Drenthe)
• The Rotterdam Harvest Market: seasonal produce market in Rotterdam in October/November.
• Pluk & Oogstfeest in Mill: a free autumn harvest & food festival with local farmers, tasting, kids’ activities.
• Artisanal Market in Eck en Wiel.
Bloemencorso Zundert (Zundert, Brabant)
This big flower parade (dahlias) takes place in early September and it’s truly impressive. Bloemencorso Zundert is the largest flower parade in the world, entirely made with dahlias grown locally by volunteers. Every year, 20 hamlets around Zundert compete by building massive, moving artworks that can reach up to 9 meters high and 19 meters long. The parade draws tens of thousands of visitors, and is a spectacular mix of creativity and community spirit.
Immerse yourself in the purple heather fields
From late August into September, vast fields in the Dutch national parks are covered in purple: it’s the time when the heather bushes are blooming, and it’s spectacular! You can visit them by walking or cycling.
Where to see it:
• Veluwe / Veluwezoom & Posbank (Gelderland). The Posbank in the Veluwezoom offers rolling hills covered in purple heather when in bloom.
• Hilversum Area & Gooi de Vechtstreek (North Holland). Around Hilversum you have several heide patches: Hoorneboegse Heide, Bussummerheide, Zuiderheide etc.
• Strabrechtse Heide (Noord‐Brabant). A large heathland area (~1500 ha), very accessible from places in Noord-Brabant
• Schoorlse Duinen. Start from the visitors centre and choose the heather path.
Visit a vineyard
This may come as a surprise, but viticulture is on the rise in the Netherlands. There are beautiful vineyard areas in the south and east of the country, and you can visit them. For example, the 11-kilometre Wine Route Vijlen – Holset in Limburg can be done by bike and takes you along vineyards like Wijndomein St. Martinus, through hills and forests. Other regions where you can cycle through wine estates are Drenthe and the Achterhoek. And you can follow a 13-kilometer Errekomsepad path walk along the Betuwe villages, lush meadows and the Betuws Wijndomein. Along the way, there are tasting opportunities as well, so you can experience the flavors of the region.
Spend a night at the museums
Museum Night, a beloved event that usually takes place in October-November, sees museums staying open late with a variety of activities. Museum Night takes place on different dates in different cities. For example, Museum Night Amsterdam is on 1 November this year, while Alkmaar’s event is on 27 September and The Hague’s on 11 October. During the evening, participants can explore museums in unusual ways, like guided tours, workshops, performances, or light installations. Tickets are usually valid for multiple museums in a city, making it easy to experience a full night of culture and creativity.
Visit an open-air museum
Visit an open-air museum like the Zuiderzeemuseum in Enkhuizen. This has various activities for kids and adults alike, including autumn-specific ones like the Oudhollandse kermis (the Old Holland Fair) organised during the autumn school break.
Autumn in the Netherlands is a great time to get out and explore. The weather is crisp, the landscapes change color, and there are plenty of things to do, whether it’s a bike ride through the countryside, a walk on the heath, a visit to a market, or a museum trip. I hope this list gave you some ideas for the next weekend! What are your favourite activities to do in autumn?
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