The most famous long-distance hiking trail in the Netherlands, the Pieterpad, has guided walkers through the beautiful Dutch landscapes for over 40 years. The route is divided into two parts, as described in the official guides by the Pieterpad Foundation.
Your journey begins in the picturesque village of Pieterburen, known for its seal sanctuary, and ends at the impressive Sint-Pietersberg in Limburg. Despite the small size of the Netherlands, the variation in landscapes is astonishing, ranging from wide-open fields and dense forests to rugged heathlands and rolling hills. The route, about 500 kilometers long, is divided into 26 stages, each between 14 and 23 kilometers, marked by the well-known red-and-white markings. You can follow the route using the hiking guides or GPS files, which are available for download on the Wandelnet website.
The adventure begins in Pieterburen, where the fresh sea air greets you and the landscape exudes calm. The village is famous for its seal sanctuary, but it’s also the official starting point of the Pieterpad, marked by a clear “START PIETERPAD” sign in the center of the village. This is, of course, the perfect place to snap a photo before embarking on the first 12-kilometer stage. If you want to experience even more of the local charm, you can combine it with the Prologue, which was introduced much later but adds to the beauty of the route.
Leaving the city of Groningen behind, the landscape transforms into a more rural and historical setting. You’ll encounter your first dolmens, ancient stone graves believed to be the remains of prehistoric burial chambers. These massive stones will leave you wondering how they ended up here without the technology we have today. As you walk further, the terrain becomes wilder, leading you to the Ballooërveld—a vast, silent heathland that stretches for miles. It can be especially dry and difficult to walk through on warm days, making the 4 kilometers across it feel longer. Yet, whether you’re walking it at the start or end of the day, this section offers a stunning slice of natural beauty.
After crossing the Ballooërveld, you’ll pass through the Galgenberg, where beautiful Pieterpad markers guide your way through this ancient landscape.
You’ll wander through the Gieten-Borger forest, where nature takes center stage, with frequent stiles to climb over as you pass through various fields and woodlands. One of the highlights along the way is the Pieterpad Monument, dedicated to Bertje and Toos, the women who envisioned and created this trail. Between 1978 and 1983, they worked to create a serious long-distance path for the Netherlands, not knowing it would become the country’s most famous long-distance walking route 40 years later.
On the way to Coevorden, you’ll pass landmarks like an old water tower, a Jewish cemetery, and many small canals before reaching the “Goose Town” of Coevorden.
In the province of Overijssel, you follow the train tracks and fish ladders along the river Vecht, passing through Gramsbergen and eventually reaching Hardenberg. As you continue toward Ommen, the Vecht remains a companion, with its peaceful riverbanks and stretches of forest, where you’ll spot juniper bushes scattered along the path.
Hellendoorn is widely known in the Netherlands for its amusement park, but you won’t see it on this part of the Pieterpad. Instead, you’ll walk through the breathtaking Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park. This area is home to 16 hills that were formed by a large glacier pushing the earth aside long ago. Moraines, boulders, and burial mounds now tell the stories of our ancestors. The highest hill, the Archemerberg, rises to 80 meters, offering spectacular views of the surrounding landscape.
As you head toward Holten, you’ll pass through Twilhaar estate, a place rich in history. Originally a Dutch labor camp, it was taken over by the Germans during World War II, where they isolated Jewish people from their families by forcing them to work here. The next stop for many of them was Westerbork Camp, the last stop before deportation from the Netherlands.
In this area, you’ll frequently come across rest spots where you can enjoy a small cup of coffee or tea, use the restroom, and—as the name suggests—take a moment to rest. The final stage of the first half leads you to Vorden, known both for its castles and as the halfway point of the Pieterpad.
After completing these 13 stages, covering approximately 240 kilometers (not including the Prologue), you’ll have passed through the provinces of Groningen, Drenthe, and Overijssel and arrived in Gelderland.
Below are all the stages and kilometers as described in the hiking guide. After this piece I continued walking on part 2
Pieterburen – Winsum |
Winsum – Groningen |
Groningen – Zuidlaren |
Zuidlaren – Rolde |
Rolde – Schoonloo |
Schoonloo – Sleen |
Sleen – Coevorden |
Coevorden – Hardenberg |
Hardenberg – Ommen |
Ommen – Hellendoorn |
Hellendoorn – Holten |
Holten – Laren |
Laren – Vorden |
12 |
22 |
21 |
17 |
18 |
23 |
21 |
19 |
21 |
21 |
15 |
15 |
14 |
You can download the GPS files and order the hiking guide from the website. This website is entirely in Dutch. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at…
Our Photos
We take photos with our phone, mirrorless camera, or compact camera. We don’t edit our experience photos with colors or filters; all the colors you see are exactly as we observed them.
A Walking Pin
Would you like a walking pin as a souvenir of this hiking route? You can click here.
Other Hikes
If you’d like to read more about our hikes, check out our overview page.
Route – GPS
For all information about the stages, the hiking guide (in Dutch), or the GPS route, visit this website.
Part 2
Read it here
