Naardense Bos

The Naarderbos is a mixed residential and recreation area on the shore of the Gooimeer, between the fortified town of Naarden and the village of Muiderberg, in the Gooi region east of Amsterdam. It covers around a hundred hectares and is best described as a leisure district rather than a wild forest: it has wooded stretches and paths, a marina, a golf course and a neighbourhood of villas, set between the A1 motorway and the water. For visitors, it is a quiet green and watery place for a walk or a round of golf.

The lake is the main feature. The Gooimeer is the part of the former Zuiderzee that lies between the Gooi and the polders of Flevoland, and it is crossed by the Hollandse Brug, the bridge that carries the motorway to Almere. The marina gives access to the water for sailing and motor boating, and walking along the shore gives wide views across the lake. The paths through the wooded parts are suitable for walking and cycling, and the area is pleasant for an evening stroll. The golf course is the best known facility, and it is open to visitors who book.

The real attraction nearby is Naarden itself. The town is one of the best preserved fortress towns in Europe, with a star-shaped system of ramparts and moats from the seventeenth century that is complete and can be walked or cycled along. The Fort Naarden Ramparts Walk gives views over the water and the town, and the Nederlands Vestingmuseum, the fortress museum, explains the history and the military engineering. Naarden is also where the philosopher and educator Jan Amos Comenius is buried, and a small museum, Museum Naarden, covers the story of the town. The Grote Kerk, with its painted wooden vault, and the town hall are other highlights, and the Kerkplein and the old streets have a quiet charm.

The Goois Natuurreservaat, the large nature reserve of heath and woodland in the Gooi, lies a short distance to the south and offers longer walks. The area is well connected by train to Amsterdam and Utrecht, and Naarden-Bussum station is a short ride from the centre.

The Naarderbos suits walkers, cyclists, sailors and golfers, and it is best used as a pleasant extension of a visit to Naarden. Go in the evening for the light over the Gooimeer, and bring a windproof jacket, since the lake is exposed.