With bikes on the roof and in sight, we drive to the North Holland dunes. While travelling, the working week fades into the background and is already completely forgotten when we Landal GreenParks Berger Duinen drive up. The distinctive Landal flags are already flying sharply against the clear blue sky. The last summer weekend of 2024 is upon us!
Text and photos: Mountain High Chasers
Full of expectations
Expectantly, we insert the key into the thatched 'cottage No 19'. With a big smile, we walk through and around it. One of the floors is below ground level, so it does not betray how much space it has. The park, too, is small and beautifully laid out. Even in late September, the flowerbeds are still thriving. On and off the bike, it promises to be a very nice weekend!
Still, the call of the sea is greatest, so we head for the coast for a while. With a rising sea and sinking sun, we walk along Camperduin beach. From the terrace of the beach tent, we watch the sun sink to its last glimpse.
Giving the spurs
Fresh sandwiches are delivered to the door and end up directly on the richly stocked breakfast table. The weekend road atmosphere hangs nicely as we take one more coffee. After the last sip, the call of the mountain bike trail can no longer be resisted.
We have barely left the park when, just outside Schoorl, we find the distinctive signs with dots and a triangle. In the forest, it immediately goes up nicely and down harder. Hard and sometimes wooden ground alternates with loose dune sand. It takes some getting used to this unsteady surface, but once it becomes one's own, the party begins. We play with the track and the track sometimes plays with us. This is a bit different from the fast mountain bike trails elsewhere in the Netherlands.
Peace in the forest
Peace reigns in the wooded dunes. Yet choices keep coming our way; loop left or loop right? The easy way or the one with a drop after all? As confidence grows, the answer changes. And the fun remains!
Schoorl's mountain bike route consists of three loops. One of intermediate level (the purple one) and two (red and green) that are classified as difficult. Within these routes, you can choose the difficult or easy way on certain passages. With a bit of confidence in yourself and your (growing) technique, you can go down anywhere here. If you still don't dare, walking here is also wonderful.
Relaxation
After the ride, we land at the bottom of the famous climbing dune in the heart of Schoorl. Our partners and children run and fall down there for the umpteenth time. We sit down too (terrace choice enough) and enjoy a unique part of the Netherlands.
Back at the park. Bike shoes off, legs up and drinks on the table. Chatting about the ride and putting the evidence on Strava. In the spacious garden surrounded by greenery, relaxation falls over us. Now it's time for the Green Egg to flame up. The large (set and occupied) garden table looks like it's right out of that olive oil commercial. The evening only goes out with the last block of wood, in the wood stove under the canopy.
Cycling fun
Breakfast is a copy of yesterday without getting used to it. The change of food is in the route. This time we leave the dunes for a while and steer towards Geestmerambacht. Where the rave reviews turn out to be fully justified. Here, a bunch of creative people have gone wild. Every difference in height is exploited, and even extended with bridges, culverts and scaffolding. Kudos to the responsible route builders, what an ode to cycling pleasure lies here!
With a satisfied smile, we cycle through a quiet area back to Schoorl. Time to play out all the loops there. When we pause for a bar after a few kilometres of singletrack, we notice how quiet it is here in the wooded dunes. We hear nothing but our own panting and birds. Not a motorised noise to be detected. This red loop is labelled 'difficult', a designation that pays tribute to the skill and muscle strength we have to muster to cycle it out. Climbing here is often short but steep uphill (sometimes over mesh or sheep fences for extra grip). Down over wooden structures with bends and drops, starting it means finishing it. The thrill of just doing it and noticing you can do it is addictive.
Lovely weather again
Today, too, the weather is great. Between the pine-tree-covered hills, we imagine ourselves in Mediterranean spheres. Still, we order a pure Dutch apple pie with coffee at Bospaviljoen De Berenkuil. Bike helmet off and noses to the sun. Are we going to try the green loop too? Yes, aren't we?
We still make a lot of choices, often in a split second. Loop with or without a drop? Down here, on foot or by tyre? Fulfilled, we roll back into the park. The bikes disappear into our bike shed and the sauna is fired up. A blissful luxury after a hard day's cycling.
Temperature and relaxation run high. The weekend is going through our heads. North Holland has amazed us. That you can find so much challenge and fun here on the fat tyres had never entered our minds. Those elements are strewn across a beautiful and hilly dune area. From our luxury cottage, we know enough; this is where we are going to come more often!
Berger Dunes Park
Park Berger Duinen is actually located exactly between Schoorl and Bergen. The hamlet of Aagtdorp is its home base. The park is right on the Schoorl MTB track, one of the more popular cycling areas in the Noord-Holland region. At the park, we have a beautiful large house, an Extra Luxe 8-person variant, with a BBQ. The park is small-scale and fits nicely into its surroundings. The 8-person villas are the largest on the park. Unlike other parks, where you can also find 10-person or 12-person accommodations.
Routes Landal GreenParks Berger Duinen - MTB
More of our Landal GreenParks 12 months - 12 provinces - 12 parks content?
- Cycling from Landal GreenParks Ouddorp Duin on Goeree-Overflakkee and Zeeland
- Cycling routes on Schouwen-Duiveland - from Landal GreenParks Resort Haamstede
- Landal GreenParks Natuurdorp Suyderoogh: ideal for exploring the Wadden coast
- On a cycling adventure from Landal GreenParks Waterparc Veluwemeer in Flevoland
- Landal GreenParks Waterpark Sneekermeer: your basecamp in Friesland!
- Cycling in Limburg starts on the Cauberg
- Gravel routes in North Brabant: Landal GreenParks Klein Oisterwijk is your starting point!
- Cycling from Landal Sallandse Heuvelrug: beautiful routes in the east of the Netherlands
