Parks and the outdoors in Hilversum

Parks and the outdoors in Hilversum

1. SeeGarden

   Costerustuin

   As early as the 1920s, biology scholar Jan Costerus wanted to educate the public about native flora found in Het Gooi and the surrounding area. He founded Hilversum's first educational garden in 1920, and it moved to its current location in 1930. Unlike most gardens, plants are not arranged aesthetically or by flowering season, but by family, on the basis of the Eichler plant taxonomy system. About 1200 wild plants, flowers and trees from all over the Gooi area and its vicinity are on display with name tags.

   During daylight

2. EatInternational restaurant

   Parc

   A restaurant for lunch, dining or drinks. It has a striking design, that complements the sand and salt bunker next to it, that was designed by Dudok in the 1940s. The outdoor terrace overlooks the Oude Haven, a park around a canal dug in the 18th century by affluent Amsterdam traders to connect Hilversum with the Vecht river.

   1 Apr-31 Oct 11:00-00:00 daily, 1 Nov-31 Mar Tue-Sun 11:00-00:00·€25 · Outdoor seating

3. SeeGarden

   Pinetum Blijdenstein

   The Pinetum is a botanical garden founded by B.W. Blijdenstein in 1911. It is famous around the world among those knowledgeable on the subject. The Pinetum has one of the world's most important conifer collections, with many species rare and endangered in the wild. Besides conifers, there are gatherings of cycads, palms, ephedras, Tasmanian flora and rhododendrons. A notable tree is the sequoia sempervirens, the largest tree in the world. Get a map at the visitor's centre and walk along the advised path.

   1 Nov-31 Mar: Mon-Fri 09:00-16:00; 1 Apr-31 Oct: Mon-Fri 09:00-16:00, Sat Sun hols 12:00-16:30·€2.50, free entry on Wednesdays

4. SeeMuseum

   Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision

   Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld en Geluid

   An architectural marvel. Designed by Jaap Drupsteen and completed in 2006, this block-shaped building became an instant landmark and won the Dutch Golden Pyramid award for its architectural significance. Don't be fooled by its size: it's actually twice as massive, as half of the building is underground! A century of Dutch television, film and radio archives are stored in the underground vault, to be protected for future generations. The glass windows depict important moments in Dutch television history. You can walk inside and have a cup of coffee at the restaurant. It is also home to an interactive museum with a display of Dutch audiovisual archives in 15 different theme zones. However, you must have a profound interest in the Dutch cultural heritage to be able to enjoy that as a foreigner.

   Tue Sun 10:00-17:30·Adults €15, children 6-12 €8

5. EatRestaurant

   De Jonge Haan

   This is the most upscale "brasserie" of Hilversum and the best place to run into Dutch celebrities. It is listed 57th in the Top 100 Best Dutch Cafés of the magazine Horeca Misset. At any time of the day you can walk in for coffee or tea with a muffin or pie. The interior looks professional and the Dutch word gezellig (nice and cosy) definitely applies here. Sit outdoors on warm summer days, as the café is in a breezy green neighbourhood.

   Mon-Fri 09:00-00:00, Sat Sun 12:00-00:00

6. See

   Laapersveld

   The Laapersveld was created in 1919 as a public works project. The sand extracted to create the pond has been used for its hilly terrain. The park is designed by W.M. Dudok and J.H. Meijer. Dudok's influence is most clearly seen in the design of the pumping station, which is in Amsterdam School style. It was used to drain rain and sewer water into the pond and from there to the Oude Haven. The park has a calm ambiance. You can relax, feed the geese or work out.

7. See

   Landgoed Zonnestraal

   Zonnestraal is one of Duiker's architectural marvels, and among the best examples of the New Objectivity style. The estate was submitted to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites, and is on the tentative list. Zonnestraal was built as a tuberculosis sanatorium in the 1920s and 1930s. It consists of one large main building, two smaller pavilions and some additional buildings that were added later. The buildings are made of concrete and glass, in the colours white, black and a specific kind of light-blue called 'Duiker blue'. Start at Brasserie Zonnestraal (Loosdrechtse Bos 15, +31 35 538-5402), buy the walking guide there for €5 and follow the 4,5 km walking trail around the estate. If you want to see the interior of the building, you can only do so by taking the guided tour that is given every last Sunday of the month. You need to register for the tour beforehand by calling the listed phone number or by sending an e-mail. The tour starts at Brasserie Zonnestraal at 12:00 and 14:00, and costs €8, to be paid in cash to the tour guide. The tour takes 90 minutes.

   Closed · opens 6 am tomorrow

8. See

   Boombergpark

   Between 1831 and 1841, painter Jan van Ravenswaay bought several farmlands west of Hilversum with financial support from friends in Amsterdam. Together with his cousin and hiking partner, the notary Albertus Perk, he created a leafy hiking trail from Hilversum to the forest area in the west. In 1848, the area of the trail was transferred to the municipality of Hilversum. It was one of the first public walking trails outside a town's built-up area. In the late 19th century, the Boombergwijk was constructed, and since then the trail is inside the town's built-up area. The Boombergwijk is among the wealthiest neighbourhoods of town with beautiful free-standing villas. Since 2006, the Boombergwijk, together with Trompenberg, has been declared a protected cityscape by the Ministry of Housing and the Environment. The park starts at the Rosarium, a rose garden with a monument dedicated to the victims of World War II, designed by V.P.S. Esser. The Boombergpark is best visited as a part of the Peerlkamproute hiking trail.

9. Eat

   Robert

   An interesting French restaurant in the middle of a forest, only accessible by car, bike or taxi. The food is not original, but has a good quality and taste. Sit outside when the weather allows it.

   Tue-Fri 12:00-22:00, Sat 17:30-22:00·€35-50

10. See

    Zanderij Crailo

    Zanderij Crailo is the largest wildlife crossing in the world. Construction started in December 2002 and it was officially opened by Queen Beatrix in 2006, costing approximately €15 million. With 800 metres in length and 50 metres in width, it connects the Spanderswoud in the west with the Bussumerheide in the east. It is a remarkable engineering feat, as it crosses over a railway, a road, a train maintenance area and a sport park. By connecting the forests of the Gooi area and the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, the crossing created the second largest connected nature area in the Netherlands, strengthening biodiversity in the region.

11. 
    DoNature reserve

    Spanderswoud

    Spanderslaan
12. SeeCastle

    Jagtlust

    Leeuwenlaan 42

    Heritage listed · Built 1700

13. DoPark

    De Kwekerij

    Oosterspoorplein 1

14. DoNature reserve

    De Snip

15. 
    DoNature reserve

    Hoogt van 't Kruis
16. DoNature reserve

    Huydecopersbos

17. DoNature reserve

    Laapersheide

18. 
    DoNature reserve

    Laapersveld
19. SeeViewpoint

    Heksenweitje

20. DoPark

    Media NatuurPark

    Cp - Media, Peerlkamplaan 7

21. DoPark

    Nos Jeugdjournaal

    Sumatralaan 45

22. DoPark

    Speelotheek Hilversum

    Edisonstraat 47

23. DrinkBeach bar

    HUB Hilversum Beachclub

    Sumatralaan 45

24. DoPark

    Park Oude Haven

    3e Oosterstraat

25. DoNature reserve

    Goois Natuurreservaat Laapersveld

    Laapersveld 25a

26. DoNature reserve

    Corversbos

27. DoNature reserve

    Cronebos

28. DoNature reserve

    Raabos

29. DoPark

    Dudokpark

    Wheelchair accessible

30. DoPark

    Rosarium Hilversum

    Wheelchair accessible

31. DoPark

    Abdij van Eltenplantsoen

32. SeeGarden

    Botanische tuin "Dr. Costerus"

33. DoPark

    De Oude Haven

34. DoMarina

    Dirkse Watersport

35. DoPark

    Neuwegpleintje

36. DoPark

    Vitushof

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Hilversum (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps.