The next day, Uncle Jean took me to Groet, where another of my sisters lives with her family. This part of the Netherlands has a very rural feel and its charm is in the small communities that dot the landscape and wide open spaces. When blooming, the fields around Groet apparently rival Keukenhof’s tulip display. I’m sad because the timing for this trip doesn’t coincide with the tulip season. But there are crocuses and daffodils already, so there’s some comfort!
Two things were most striking about the area (didn’t take many pics here because I focused on enjoying them with my family). The Dutch have always been extraordinary engineers, especially when it comes to reclaiming land from the sea. If I understand correctly, a year ago, around a seven mile long stretch of beach and dunes was created near Camperduin using a new sand transfer technique. Very impressive!
The second landmark is the Schoorlse Duinen. It’s a natural recreational area that features the highest and widest dunes in the Netherlands. There are around thirty-seven miles of trails to choose from and it’s an absolute pleasure to walk here, as my sister and I did together. Evergreen trees and plans grow very well on the hillsides and yet the soil consists more of sand than the darker stuff. There aren’t many people, which is a marvel considering how small Holland is and its population numbers. In some ways it felt the Hundred Acre Wood—go explore!
