Starting point Leyduin Vogelenzang

 Leyduin Estate lies on one of the old beach ridges behind the dunes. These were already inhabited in the early Bronze Age, around 2000 BC. In the Middle Ages, the Counts of Holland hunted here in De Hout, a wood that stretched from Leiden to Alkmaar. From the seventeenth century, wealthy merchants bought land here as an investment in sand extraction for Amsterdam’s urban development. They later built summer residences. Over the centuries, these country houses became ever grander estates, including Leyduin. The present main building replaced earlier fine residences in 1921. Landschap Noord-Holland has managed the estate since 1997, which now boasts several centuries-old trees, a belvedere and a stream. The first drinking water for Amsterdam to be extracted from the dunes once flowed from here to the pumping station, now a museum, on Leidsevaart.

• The Leyduin Route (red) circles the nature-rich estate, including the grounds that had a horse-racing track, complete with grandstand, betting office and hotel, until the early twentieth century.

The Country Estates Path (green-yellow) between Vogelenzang, Heemstede and Bennebroek is included in the network, go to www.landschapnoordholland.nl. This unique path between historic country estates takes you past centuries-old trees and stately houses. Accompanied by countless birds and perhaps even a curious roe deer or squirrel, you can fully enjoy the tranquil sounds and beautiful nature around you.

Photo: Westphil Photography