Het Zwanenwater is a diverse, 600-hectare dune area near the coastal town of Callantsoog. It has Natura 2000 site status and is also an officially recognised wetland. Nature, coastal trails and cultural sites offer different ways to plan your stay.
Dune landscapes and walking trails
Two walking trails wind through the dunes at Het Zwanenwater: one is 2.5 kilometres long and the other 5.8 kilometres. Their different lengths help you choose a walk that suits your plans. As route lengths may change, check the latest information before setting out. Natuurmonumenten organises guided excursions there year-round, including long walks and photography walks. The programme may vary by season; if a guided tour is important to your plans, check the current dates.
The Het Zwanenwater visitor car park is at Zuidschinkeldijk 3a, 1759 JH Callantsoog. As access information may change, check it before travelling. Nearby, outside Callantsoog, lies the Uitlandse Polder. A 3.3-kilometre walking route there passes through open grassland, low dunes, ditches and reed beds. The grasslands are home to orchids and other rare flowering plants; natterjack toads live in the ditches and ponds, and the area provides habitat for breeding meadow birds.
Kooibosch-Luttickduin is also in the vicinity of Callantsoog. Walking paths lead through the old coppice woodland. The area also includes a very rare habitat type in the Netherlands: purple moor-grass meadow. The natural landscapes are distinct: dunes shape the walking trails at Zwanenwater, open spaces and ditches define the Uitlandse Polder, while Kooibosch-Luttickduin features coppice woodland and rare grassland.
Coastal routes and bike rides
The walking route “De kust van Callantsoog” passes through the Pettemerduinen, along the beach and beside the Het Zwanenwater nature reserve. Check the signage and conditions locally. For a bike ride, “Dagje fietsen rondom Callantsoog” starts at the Museumboerderij Tante Jaantje and runs through the expansive polders of Noord-Holland. Another ride is 40 kilometres long: it starts in Callantsoog, goes to Den Helder and returns. For this second route, the distance and round trip are explicit parts of the planning; the first focuses on its starting point and polder landscape. As route conditions may change, check the latest information before setting off.
Water sports are another possible activity: Surfschool Callantsoog offers courses for everyone from beginners to advanced surfers. Course availability may vary by season. You can therefore consider walks and bike rides alongside an activity on the water as different ways to spend your stay.
Museums and local history
Juttersmuseum Callantsoog combines contemporary art with collections of treasures salvaged from the sea. Parking is available next to the museum; more free spaces can be found in the adjacent large car park at Strandslag Voordijk. Parking rules may change, so check them before your visit.
Museumboerderij Tante Jaantje has an exhibition about Hollywood, which was established as an emergency village near Callantsoog during the Second World War. The exhibition programme may change; check whether it is on display before your visit. The village church also offers a specific glimpse into Callantsoog’s history: it was rebuilt on the eastern edge of the village in 1580. The tower of the church at Kerkplein 1 houses a bell cast by Geert van Wou in 1491.
Practical information for the beach
At Callantsoog beach, De Toko offers people with disabilities the use of a beach wheelchair for a small fee. Arrange this before you travel. This information adds a practical option for a beach visit to the routes and cultural attractions, without treating it as equivalent to the other trails or activities.
Discover more destinations: 'T Zand, Petten, Het Korfwater, Sint Maartensvlotbrug, Oudesluis, Burgerbrug, Sint Maartensbrug, Sint Maartenszee
For the broader travel overview: Zijpe.
