Taking your dog into the North Holland dunes: where is it allowed?

The dunes between Castricum and Bergen, and Zuid-Kennemerland National Park further on towards Zandvoort and IJmuiden, aren’t just any woodland. They’re protected nature reserves full of nesting birds, rabbits and rare plant species, managed by PWN, North Holland’s drinking water company, which also maintains the dunes themselves. That means: no free access everywhere, and a leash requirement in most places. But PWN does designate a number of spots where your dog can run off-leash, and here’s the list as PWN itself publishes it.

The main rule: on a leash, unless

Throughout the Noordhollands Duinreservaat and Zuid-Kennemerland, a leash is required everywhere except at the specifically designated off-leash spots below. On the walking and cycling paths, too, your dog must be on a short leash. Sled dog sports aren’t allowed anywhere in the area. Where your dog can run off-leash, the responsibility stays with you: a dog that wanders off disturbs nesting birds and young animals just as much as a dog that’s never allowed off-leash at all. (Source: PWN, Taking your dog into the dunes)

Noordhollands Duinreservaat

Castricum

Your dog can run off-leash on the path below the Papenberg and on the loop around the Zanderij.

Wijk aan Zee

Off-leash on the Vuurbaakduin and the Paasduin, both just outside the village, on the dune side.

Egmond aan Zee

Three off-leash spots: Robbenzand, Kroonstad and Noordlob.

Egmond-Binnen

Here your dog can run off-leash in the Overbos and on the exercise field near the Oude Schulpweg car park.

Bergen

In Bergen, PWN designates the Engelse Veld and the Bergerbos as an off-leash area. Note: in the Bergerbos, a leash is required again during the nesting season, from 15 March to 15 June, outside that period your dog can run free there, under control (staying close to you, responding immediately to your voice). There’s also a forest of the same name, Bergerbos, in North Limburg, near Afferden, a completely different area.

Zuid-Kennemerland National Park

This park, further south towards Zandvoort and IJmuiden, is according to PWN less accessible than the Noordhollands Duinreservaat. Two off-leash spots:

• Zandvoort: on the Visscherspad and the Blinkertweg, your dog can also run off the path, as long as he stays within the area’s fencing.
• IJmuiden: in the Heerenduinen, your dog can run off-leash, outside the grazing area, grazing animals (sheep or cattle) live there and shouldn’t be disturbed.

What about the beach?

The dunes are PWN territory, but the beach itself falls under the coastal municipality. For that, PWN points to the signs at the beach accesses, since those rules vary by municipality and by season. For the exact rules at Wijk aan Zee, Bergen aan Zee, Egmond aan Zee, Zandvoort and IJmuiden themselves, see our guide to dog beaches in Belgium and the Netherlands.

In practice

• Nesting season isn’t just a slogan. From roughly mid-March to mid-July, ground-nesting birds breed on the beach and in the dunes. A dog running through, even if the spot looks empty, can disturb an entire nest.
• “Under control” is the standard at an off-leash spot, not a free-for-all. Your dog needs to stay close to you and come back immediately when called.
• Bring water. Dune sand doesn’t hold rainwater; on a warm day there’s no puddle or stream along the way for your dog to drink from.
• Rules do change. PWN updates the map from time to time, for instance after damage to the vegetation. When in doubt, check the signs at the entrance of the area itself.

Know an off-leash area in the North Holland dunes that’s missing here, or another nature area in Belgium or the Netherlands not yet on GoPuppy? Add the place, and we’ll include it. Looking for more off-leash areas? See the full overview on GoPuppy.