Attraction parks
The most famous theme parks within easy reach of Eindhoven are the Efteling, the largest theme park in the Netherlands, and Toverland. Both provide a range of thrilling rollercoasters, enchanting rides and spectacular parkshows for children of all ages. At Aquabest (Best), you can relax at the beach park, try your hand at waterskiing, or visit the indoor and outdoor playgrounds at DippieDoe.
City parks
You do not have to travel outside the city center to find nature in the Netherlands, there are also plenty of green spaces in the city centers. Genneper Parken, located in the south of Eindhoven along the rivers Dommel and Tongelreep, is a sports and recreation area with numerous possibilities, such as mini-golf, walks, and the preHistorisch Dorp.
Also popular in the Netherlands are children’s petting zoos (kinderboerderijen), which offer youngsters the chance to pet furry friends, such as goats, sheep, horses, rabbits, and/or geese. Petting zoos can be found in many cities and towns, such as Gennepper Parken and Philips van Lenneppark in Eindhoven, and Het Wandelbos in Tilburg.
Cycling and walking
Cycling and walking are very popular in the Netherlands and there are hundreds of kilometers of marked cycling and walking routes that are easy to follow. You can plan your own route using the cycle or walking route networks, and there are usually plenty of cafes along the route. Try the following websites if you are looking for cycle or walking routes: ANWB make your own cycle route, route.nl for cycle and walking routes, VisitBrabant plan your own walking route.
National parks and forests
The national parks and nature reserves in Brabant offer a variety of landscapes, from heathlands and forests to sand dunes and rivers. Rich in wildlife, and with plenty of cycling and walking routes, you will be spoilt for choice.
Close to Eindhoven, De Groote Heide is an area of almost 15,000 acres stretching from the green southern side of Eindhoven, past the Belgium-Dutch border and towards Hamont-Achel and Neerpelt. Due to its unique biodiversity, De Groote Heide ranks among the top 10 nature reserves in Europe. Also near Eindhoven, and on the border with Limburg, is De Groote Peel National Park, a wetland area that serves as a breeding ground for hundreds of species of marsh and water birds.
Visit the Dunes of Loon and Drunen National Park (Nationaal Park Loonse en Drunense Duinen) near Tilburg for the largest sand drift area in western Europe. Or travel just beyond Goirle to find the Gorp and Roovert Woodlands and the Rechte Hei with its extensive open meadows. In the Breda area, check out Mastbos, Liesbos, Markdal and De Rith.
Playgrounds and activities
Good news for families with children - every neighborhood has open-air playgrounds, some small, some large. In Eindhoven, you will find Speelvereniging Philipsdorp, which covers an area of approximately 7,500 square meters, and Speelpark de Splinter, a large open air playground with lots of play areas, a construction corner, a toddler corner and two toddler pools. There are also plenty of playgrounds in the villages surrounding Eindhoven, such as Speeltuin de Viking in Geldrop, Speeltuin de Kievit in Nuenen, and Speeltuin de Klimbim in Waalre.
Alternatively, you can test your climbing skills on the adventurous climbing course at Klimrijk in Veldhoven. Klimrijk also offers other activities, such as outdoor laser gaming, archery tag and more.
Zoos and animal parks
For animal lovers of all ages, visit Beekse Bergen Safari Park (near Tilburg) to take a safari through nature - on foot, by car, on board a safari bus and by boat! Or visit Eindhoven Zoo, where you will come face to face with a range of fantastic animals. Children can also join the animal keepers on their rounds and in between they can play to their heart’s content in the indoor and outdoor playgrounds.