Soesterduinen dunes, Nature reserve in Soest, Netherlands
Soesterduinen is a nature reserve in the Province of Utrecht spanning about 500 hectares. It contains active sand dunes, pine forests, and patches of heathland divided into two main sandy ridge systems.
The Province of Utrecht recognized this area as a geological monument to preserve its distinctive sand formations shaped by wind over centuries. This protection acknowledges the geological processes that continue to reshape the landscape today.
Local visitors regularly come here for walks, cycling, and kite flying across the open sand plains. The dunes serve as a retreat where people can move freely and connect with the natural landscape.
Two marked walking trails start from the Foekenlaan parking area with distances of 3.5 and 5 kilometers. Both routes take you through forests and sand plains that are easy to navigate.
Wind continuously reshapes the sand formations here, making it the largest active drift sand area in the Province of Utrecht. The constantly shifting dunes create a landscape that sometimes resembles African savanna under certain light conditions.
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