The Horsterwold is the largest contiguous deciduous forest in Western Europe, covering over 3,700 hectares. It’s an ideal place to enjoy peace and open space. A vast network of paths and routes awaits you. Come face-to-face with roe deer, wild horses, foxes, and countless bird species that inhabit the area. Such an expansive landscape is full of hidden gems and sights with unique stories. Discover them by bike, on foot, on horseback, or even from a canoe.
With its rich variety, the Horsterwold is a place for full enjoyment. The abundance of plants, tree species, wildlife and fungi continues to grow, also offering great potential for sustainable timber production. For nature lovers seeking tranquillity and wide open forest landscapes, the Horsterwold is a wonderful destination brimming with possibilities.
The developmen…
The Horsterwold is the largest contiguous deciduous forest in Western Europe, covering over 3,700 hectares. It’s an ideal place to enjoy peace and open space. A vast network of paths and routes awaits you. Come face-to-face with roe deer, wild horses, foxes, and countless bird species that inhabit the area. Such an expansive landscape is full of hidden gems and sights with unique stories. Discover them by bike, on foot, on horseback, or even from a canoe.
With its rich variety, the Horsterwold is a place for full enjoyment. The abundance of plants, tree species, wildlife and fungi continues to grow, also offering great potential for sustainable timber production. For nature lovers seeking tranquillity and wide open forest landscapes, the Horsterwold is a wonderful destination brimming with possibilities.
The development and design of the Horsterwold were carefully planned with the visitor experience in mind. One striking example is the Lake of Galilee, a small lake created to offer variation from the straight canals and waterways typical of the polder. Its beauty is truly surprising. There are plenty of paths and facilities, though some areas are more remote than others.
At the heart of the Horsterwold lies the Stille Kern ("Silent Core"), a unique 1,100-hectare area where visitors are free to roam. Follow the trails of the wild Konik horses, whose grazing helps preserve the landscape’s extraordinary variety of forest, scrubland, grassland, and wetlands. For those with limited mobility, there is also a semi-paved path through the area.
Where the border lakes meet the forest, water and woodland blend in a remarkable way, especially along the beaches and forelands. A wide stretch of land outside the dykes features sandy shores perfect for sunbathing, interspersed with both dry and wet natural areas that attract numerous dragonfly species. You’ll even come across small patches of heathland — a rare and unexpected sight in Flevoland.
