2026 Friesland Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in January)

#europeonbudget Autumn is all about walking in the beautiful orange-hue forest. Bakkeveen is definitely one of Friesland’s best-kept secrets with all the peaceful forests, rolling heathlands, shady lanes and hidden fens. Keep your eyes open for Highland cattle, grazing sheep, sometimes even a deer can show up crossing our path. This is also mushroom season. I see so many interesting and whimsical mushrooms that I thought only appeared in children’s books🍄🍄🟫There are also old oak trees and last blooms of heather. All of them create a magical atmosphere. 🐑🦌🍂 📍Start Location: Car park at Mjûmster Wei, Bakkeveen (free of charge) 🚶♀️Distance: 10 km 👟Be sure to wear sturdy walking shoes🥾 Highlights of the walk: 🗼Bakkeveen Lookout Tower: You can get an overview of the landscape of Bakkeveen on this tower. 🌾Bakkeveen Duinen: It’s a unique dune landscape with open vistas In the middle you can see a beautiful lake like a mirror, reflecting the landscape and the trees. 🥪De Dwaler Bakkeveen 🍰 After the walk, you can dine in at the super amazing restaurant, called “De Dwaler Bakkeveen.” They have the best meal. I had the Hummus vegetable sandwich. It’s so fulfilling to enjoy this after the walk. I also had macchiato with seasonal carrot cake!🥕They also have brownie and cheese cake🍰 📍Mjûmster Wei 16c, 9243 SK Bakkeveen

It is autumn now and it’s nice to go on a walk in the evening to enjoy beautiful sunset. Everything is orange and even with the hue of sunset, which creates a golden color onto everything. At Rengerspark in Leeuwarden, there are different varieties of trees, including oak trees🌰🌲It’s nice to go barefoot on the grass, read under the willow tree, enjoy the fresh air, or have a picnic!🧺 In the Netherlands, you can see apple trees and berry bushes everywhere. You can pick some as snacks😋❤️so healthy!🍎 The biodiversity in the Netherlands is amazing. Nature is the life here🌿✨ 📍Buurthuis Rengerspark, Singelstraat 22, 8917 BK Leeuwarden

Step into one of the largest and most diverse nature reserves in the Netherlands—National Park Drents-Friese Wold. This is a new park established in 2000. This breathtaking park is a paradise for hikers, cyclists, and nature lovers, with endless forests, shifting sand dunes, heathlands, and quiet streams creating a landscape that feels wonderfully wild. What you’ll see: ✨Aekingerzand Kale Duinen)✨ This is one of the largest drifting sand areas in the Netherlands, shaped by wind and time. With its wide open views, shifting sands and sparse vegetation, it truly feels like a miniature desert, constantly changing with the seasons. Sadly, one familiar landmark is no longer there. The iconic 13 metre Aekingerzand watchtower, which stood here for almost 30 years, has been officially removed. Due to severe wood rot, the structure was no longer safe and had to be demolished. A pity, but the landscape itself remains just as impressive. ✨Grenspoel✨ Grenspoel (boundary pond) is one of the most serene and symbolic places in the Drents Friese Wold. True to its name, the pond lies exactly on the provincial border between Drenthe and Friesland. It is surrounded by a mosaic of moist heathland and forest, creating an important habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species. This combination of natural beauty and subtle historical meaning makes Grenspoel a uniquely atmospheric spot within the national park. ✨Canadameer Lake✨ Canadameer was created around 1960 as a sand extraction pit during work to supply sand for the construction of the N381 road. Now, surrounded by forest, heathland and drifting sand dunes, the lake is a fine example of how nature has reclaimed a man made landscape. It is a favourite spot for walkers and nature lovers, offering open views, quiet paths and a strong sense of space and calm. ✨Spartelvijver Pond✨ Spartelvijver is a secluded pond that offers a glimpse into nature’s ability to reclaim and refine. Though it began its life as a functional water reservoir, it has since evolved into a quiet natural haven. The pond serves as a vital ecosystem for local fauna, especially during the vibrant spring and summer months. Nowadays, it also serves as a designated splashing pond where dogs and horses can enjoy the water. Park Entrance At the main entrance, you’ll find a welcoming visitor area that’s perfect for beginning your adventure: 🛍️ Small Shop – Pick up local products, nature-inspired souvenirs, maps, and gifts. 🖼️ Exhibition Space – Learn about the park’s unique ecosystems, wildlife, and cultural history through interactive displays. ☕ Cozy Café at De Bosch Spot 📍Outdoor Centrum Drenthe Friese Wold, Terwisscha 6A, 8426 SJ Appelscha 🚗Free parking Add this hidden gem to your Trip.com itinerary and enjoy a refreshing escape into Dutch nature 🌿 #travel2026 #travel #couplestrip #naturalwonders #thingstodo #myitinerary #localfood #nature #natureescape #naturelovers #europetrip #europe #nationalpark

#falladventures Mariakerk (St. Mary’s Church), Boer – Friesland ⛪️🌾 A tiny village with a big sense of history — that’s Boer, home to the beautifully quiet Mariakerk, a 12th-century church that feels like stepping into another time. The exterior is simple and plastered, but once you know its past, every corner becomes more interesting. In the 16th century the church was expanded with a Gothic choir and a tower, giving the small building a surprisingly elegant silhouette 🏰. The tower still carries a 1561 bell cast by Willem Wegewaert — a lovely detail for anyone who appreciates old craftsmanship 🔔. The entrance portal is another highlight: built in 1664 and decorated with two proud lions and a vase 🦁🦁, it originally belonged to the now-demolished Elgersmastate estate. Inside, the church is calm and unadorned, covered by a warm 17th-century barrel vault that adds a soft, peaceful atmosphere ✨. It’s the kind of place where you instinctively lower your voice. Since 1975, the church is no longer in use for services and is now lovingly maintained by the Alde Fryske Tsjerken foundation, which protects Friesland’s historic churches 🕍. A restoration in 2008 brought the building back to life — even the clock face carries the date as a small reminder. Mariakerk is a quiet, meaningful stop for anyone exploring Friesland’s countryside: a mix of medieval history, rural charm, and timeless beauty 🌿📸.

Im not sure if this counts as an "adventure trip" or not, but i would say it was, for me, the most amazing adventure that you have to prepare your heart well. My trip started from Zürich, Switzerland to Strasbourg and Paris in France, and ended with Amsterdam and Friesland in the Netherlands. My flight reached Zürich around 7 PM, and then I took a train to Zürich Hauptbahnhofs to transfer to Flixbus departing to Strasbourg at 9 PM. I reached Strasbourg around midnight, then I walked around the city (or you can go directly to the train station) until my train at 5 AM the next day depart to Paris. As you know, I was cycling around Paris until my train, which actually was scheduled to depart at noon, but it got delayed by system problems turned to depart at 1 PM instead. This was where I had my first meal in Europe for one piece of pizza and cola for €10 approximately. Before that, I was eating only protein bars I prepared from my hometown for emergency. I reached Amsterdam around 6 PM before directly transferred to Friesland and ended my journey around 9 PM. So if you consider by countries, I did reach Amsterdam by 6 PM after I started my journey at Zürich 7 PM the day before. It was tough, but I had fun 95% along the trip. The other 5% is for the bad smell on the train. P.S.1 : I used 5 days flexible eurail global pass for the train route, and all the train i used for this journey cost only one day out of 5 in the pass. P.S.2 : I used Google Maps to track my journey as a diary in the last picture. #ทริปเที่ยวสายลุย