Sand dunes in the middle of nowhere, welcome to nature’s creations.
This is the specialty of Maasduinen National Park, one of the 20 national parks in Netherlands. Duinen means dunes.
I hiked 10 kilometers starting from the parking lot Parkeerplaats De Maasduinen, walking on the bridge, crossing the lake on a unusual hand-operated cable ferry, walk around the river dunes & circling around the lake to the starting point. To walk on long stretches of sand flanked by dense foliage & majestic trees, some with vibrant autumn colors, is a Sunday well spent.
Another highlight is an unused Lock. The bridge lets one walk through the lock. The operator cabin is converted into an ice-cream shop. (says Open but it was closed!)
Prompt: Short passage to explain what is a lock in waterways and why is it required
MetaAI: a waterway structure that allows boats to move between two bodies of water at different levels. Essentially, it’s an enclosed chamber with gates at both ends. By controlling water levels within the lock, boats can be raised or lowered to match the surrounding water levels.
Food
There is only 1 restaurant & 1 ice-cream shop. The food was good & service was pleasant.
Conclusion
Maasduinen National Park is not going to make it the top of the charts. But it can make for a great day of solo/family/pet hiking, experience “sand dunes in the middle of nowhere”, see in action old engineering innovations, eat good food & enjoy the serenity.
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