Rest beneath the stars in a blanket of night. Enjoy the quiet and view of the night sky from the underrated Lauwersmeer National Park.
Lauwersmeer National Park, or Nationaal Park Lauwersmeer to the locals, is one of the two Dark Sky experiences available in the Netherlands. The cities of the Netherlands are beautiful, but with the street lights on you can’t see the natural beauty right above you. If you visit at night, you can see the stars clearly from this national park.
Where to see the stars
Enjoy the Dark Sky experience from the observation points and platforms at Vlinderbalg and Achter de Zwarten. You can also get a good view from the information centre at Lauwersnest. We recommend choosing the Dark Sky observation point of Lauwersmeer (N361, 9976 VT Lauwersoog, Netherlands), since you can lie back and watch the stars in peace beside the lake. It’s also not too far from the road, so it’s an easy one to reach in the car.
It tends to be fairly quiet at the national park, since it’s not as well known or as visited compared to others in the Netherlands. Visit at night with a blanket and some snacks and you can enjoy a romantic night surrounded by nature.
Things to do
Other than watching the stars, the national park has plenty of activities to do. Drop by the Lauwersnest activity centre at the weekend or on a Wednesday to find some kid-friendly activities. Children can build their own bird nest and read about nature.
If you’re with young kids, check out the Kabouterpad. This short walking path (500-1500m) is all about gnomes. Dress up as gnomes as you follow along the path and complete the gnome-tastic quests. It’s 3.50€ extra to pick up a bag of gnome goodies to go along with the walk, but it’s not necessary to pay to do the walk itself.
Walking & Cycling
Lauwersmeer National Park has more walking and cycling paths than you can count. Lauwersmeer is known for its many birds and you’re sure to see some along the way. Walks range from 1.5 km to 10 km. The nine walking routes are all clearly signposted. There’s a 43 km cycling path throughout the national park.
Tips and Tricks
- Dogs are allowed in most areas of the park as long as they’re on a leash. There are info panels around to let you know when they’re not allowed, such as around the cattle.
Getting There
- By Car: 13 min walk from parking at Parkeerplaats. Parking spaces are available at various points through the national park.
- By Bus: short walk from bus stop Lauwersmeer, De Rug. Bus 163 stops here.
Route Details
- Starting point: most walks begin at the activity centre.
- Route details: more information on the walking and cycling routes can be found here
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