In Haarlems environment, we follow two animals visiting each other's habitat. How would their neighbors be?
Sammy is an energetic dog and runs around daily in Spaarnwoude Park. Sammy has a penchant for action and feels right at home in Spaarnwoude. Hidden in the quiet dunes lives Finn. The deer's days consist of walks along the soft sand and listening to the waves of the sea. Sammy and Finn swap places and visit each other's habitat.

South-Kennemerland National Park
National Park Zuid-Kennemerland is located west of Haarlem. Here you will find fairytale country estates, such as Dune and Kruidberg, Elswout and Koningshof with beautiful country houses and rich nature. Discover the impressive forest edges, rich mushroom population, deer and wisents and the characteristic dune grassland of Middenduin. Sammy loves the diversity that the Kennemer Dunes have to offer. Besides all the beautiful things to see and discover, he also likes to meet other animals here. Of course other dogs with their owners, but if possible he likes to chase butterflies and dragonflies. Sammy is not the only quadruped in the dune area. Large grazers such as erasers, Scottish Highlanders, Konik horses and fallow deer like Finn are resting comfortably in the grass. A visit to the Kennemer Dunes Sammy prefers to end on the endless beach with a fresh dip in the sea!
Sammy is an adrenaline seeker and is used to being active. There are plenty of activities to do in National Park South-Kennemerland. Many people come to National Park South-Kennemerland for hiking. People also like to cycle there. A bike ride in the dunes can require a lot of effort. Sammy's owner can swim all year round in dune lake 't Wed. A lot is organized for children in the park. For example, there are scavenger hunts, excursions and workshops. Adults can also participate in organized activities. For example, there are various walking tours and workshops for adults.


Spaarnwoude Park
While Sammy has fun on the coast, fallow deer Finn takes a look at adrenaline-seeking Spaarnwoude. Spaarnwoude Park is located between Haarlem, Hoofddorp and Amsterdam. Some of these areas include Spaarnwoude Hills, Boerenerf Spaarnwoude, the Houtrak, the Veerplas and Groene Weelde. Finn notices that the nature here is very different from the Kennemer Dunes. Here he finds no dunes, but forest and vast polders. There are also very different animals living here. No Scottish Highlanders, but sheep, cows and ponies grazing in the fields.
Most of the animals in Spaarnwoude Park live on Zorgvrij Farm. Here live calves, goats, chickens, pigs and rabbits. A perfect place to visit with the whole family. Young and old can enjoy petting cows, tapping milk and having a bite to eat in the pancake restaurant Onder de Platanen. Kids romp in the playground and in the Spider Forest, where adventure and fun go hand in hand. Highly recommended according to Finn.
Finn discovers the lively offerings of Spaarnwoude Park and stares his eyes out. Where he is used to peace and relaxation from the dunes, the atmosphere in Spaarnwoude is energetic. People walk and bike, like in National Park South-Kennemerland. But people also rollerblade, play golf on the largest golf course in Europe, ski and snowboard at SnowPlanet Amsterdam and climbing on the climbing wall. Finn sees people riding horses through the beautiful nature reserve. He concludes that water sports are popular in Spaarnwoude. There is swimming, fishing, boating, surfing and sailing. Real daredevils shoot each other in a paintball fight and balance in the climbing park. For this you should not be afraid of heights. In Spaarnwoude Park there are many catering establishments. So you can at Villa Westend and Pavilion Loef you can sit by the water. And at café-restaurant De Toerist you can have a bite to eat in the cozy village of Spaarndam.


Accessibility
Curious about National Park South-Kennemerland? Feel free to visit the nature reserve. The park is easily accessible from the Westelijke Randweg and the A9. There are parking lots where you can park your car for a fee. National Park South-Kennemerland has several entrances and is therefore also easy to reach by public transport.
Would you like to visit Spaarnwoude Park? The area is easily accessible by car via the A9 and there are several parking lots at the edge of the nature reserve. There are also well-constructed bicycle paths in and to Spaarnwoude Park. There are several charging stations for electric bicycles in the area.
Discover more of Haarlem area.