The finest viewpoints of the Netherlands
A good view is the perfect stop on a scenic drive: out of the car for a moment, over the landscape. The Netherlands is flat, but the real panoramas are there, from the highest point at Vaals to the dune tops on the coast and the escarpment of Brabant. These are the 13 viewpoints that passed our own strict vetting. At each one you plan a drive there in a click, or let the planner build a round trip past views.
What we deliberately leave out, and why
OpenStreetMap is full of "viewpoints" that in practice offer nothing special; we add only real panoramas. A few examples of what we do not (yet) include:
- Kop van Schouwen: the lookout on the highest dune is a fifteen-minute walk from the car park, too far for a stop you catch along the way.
- Benches and picnic spots with a limited view: nice along the way, but not a destination and not worth a detour.
- Viewpoints reachable only after a long hike: we curate for touring by car, not for hiking; only a short walk is allowed.
If a viewpoint is in our list, it is worth the detour.
Plan a drive past viewpoints from your own start
Type your start town and we build a round trip of about two hours with viewpoints from our selection as stops. Then adjust everything: duration, number of stops, vehicle.
13 viewpoints approved as a stop. A place name is enough; no need to share your location.
The viewpoints that passed our vetting
This is the full, current selection the planner may pick as a stop, ordered by province. Not a list copied off the internet.
Gelderland 2
- Posbank (Veluwezoom) photo stop great from the roadplan a route here
- Radio Kootwijk photo stop great from the roadplan a route here
Limburg 2
- Drielandenpunt (Vaalserberg) photo stop great from the roadplan a route here
- Gulperberg photo stop great from the roadplan a route here
North Brabant 2
- Loonse en Drunense Duinen short walkplan a route here
- Brabantse Wal short walkplan a route here
Overijssel 2
- Holterberg (Toeristenweg) photo stop great from the roadplan a route here
- Tankenberg photo stop great from the roadplan a route here
Utrecht 2
- Grebbeberg photo stopplan a route here
- Pyramide van Austerlitz visit stopplan a route here
Drenthe 1
- Havelterberg short walkplan a route here
North Holland 1
- Schoorlse Duinen (Klimduin) short walkplan a route here
Zeeland 1
- Plompe Toren photo stop great from the roadplan a route here
Viewpoint, panorama or highest point
Whatever you call it, a viewpoint, a panorama, a lookout or the highest point nearby, the reward along the way is the same. They come from the hill country and the ice-age ridges, the high dunes, the dykes and escarpments. We collect them by province so you always know where the finest view lies.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Netherlands even have real viewpoints?
Yes. The country is flat, but the hills of South Limburg, the ridges of the Veluwe and the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, the high dunes and the dykes and escarpments give surprisingly wide views. We collect the real ones, from the highest point at Vaals to the Brabantse Wal.
Can I plan a route past viewpoints from my own address?
Yes. Type your start town above and we build a round trip with viewpoints as stops; or click "plan a route here" at a point and fill in your start.
What is the difference between a photo stop and a short walk?
A photo stop you admire from the road or car park; a short walk means a little way on foot to the view, such as a staircase up a dune or a path to an escarpment.
Are the viewpoints free?
Most are, from the road or car park. A few, such as a lookout tower or monument, charge entry; we note that at the point. Generating a route and downloading the GPX is always free.