Utrechtse Heuvelrug and Laagte van Pijnenburg

The Landscape

The province of Utrecht is traversed by a long, rolling ridge of hills that stretches from the Gooimeer to the Grebbeberg. This natural formation emerged some 150,000 years ago during the penultimate Ice Age. For centuries, the area has been celebrated for its diverse nature and historic landscapes, where wealthy families once built their castles and country estates. Today, the Utrechtse Heuvelrug is a National Park, a place where nature and culture come together in a gently undulating landscape of dense forests, purple heathlands, drifting sand plains, and stately historic estates.

The Laagte van Pijnenburg is a low-lying, wetland area that forms the transition between the Utrechtse Heuvelrug and the Gooi region. This natural depression was created during the penultimate Ice Age, as a valley between two moraines. After the last Ice Age, expansive raised bogs developed here, which were systematically excavated for peat extraction beginning in the 13th century. In the 17th century, wealthy city dwellers from Amsterdam and Utrecht discovered the tranquility of the area and commissioned the creation of estates, often with long straight avenues and parks in the English landscape style. Today, this diverse landscape offers a peaceful retreat where you can enjoy both nature and its rich history.