Play Forest de Boskoel

Who is this a real getaway for?

This is one of those places that makes families with children instantly happy. If you have kids who would rather climb, scramble and get dirty than sit neatly on a bench, then you are in the right place. De Boskoel is made for children aged about three to sixteen and is great fun if you like playing in green, without any fuss. Also nice: you walk through one of the most beautiful parts of the Maasduinen in the meantime.

When will you visit?

On a dry spring day or a sunny afternoon in summer, this really is one of those places where you stay longer than planned. Kids want to cross those ropes one more time, play with sand one more time, just finish that little hut. It's lovely here in autumn too, with crunching leaves under your feet and fresh forest air. Only after a lot of rain, putting on old clothes is smart, because going home clean is not a matter of course here.

What to expect.

No row of rubber tiles with standard equipment here, but real outdoor play among the trees. Among other things, you will find a sandpit, water pump, rope bridge and a place to build huts. Did you know that De Boskoel deliberately has no swings or slides? That's why you really play with nature here. That makes it adventurous, nice and free and just right for children with imagination.

For just the play forest, you often easily spend an hour to an hour and a half, but combine it with the 2.5-kilometre white or green route and you can easily make it 1 to 3 hours. The Boskoel is hidden in the greenery around the Reindersmeer and is about 500 metres from the visitor centre. Parking is available next to the visitor centre, but parking is prohibited to the left of the bridge. Dogs are welcome, as long as they are leashed. For wheelchair users and prams, the white route is fine as it is semi-paved, but the play forest itself remains a natural terrain with sand and forest paths. And if you get hungry, just walk back to Bosbrasserie In de Sluis, which also offers vegetarian, gluten-free and lactose-free options.

When are you welcome?

Because De Boskoel is located outside in the park, it feels like a place you can visit all year round. For parking, route info, toilets and something sweet to go with it, use the visitor centre and forest brasserie. Times there vary according to the season: in winter it is quieter, from February opening hours increase and in the summer holidays you can go there until 8pm on many days. In bad weather, the catering facilities may close earlier, so checking before leaving is smart.

Verified experiences

• Tikva: particularly liked De Boskoel as a stop during a walk around Reinders Lake.
• Karlien de Bruijn: notes that children play to their hearts' content here and don't want to just leave again.
• Linda van Aken: describes it as a spacious play forest where children can have a great time.

Our tip for your visit

First walk the white route towards the bird-watching hut and then pick up De Boskoel. That route is clear, semi-paved and therefore a fine combination even with younger children. After playing, have a drink on the terrace, and your day immediately feels well-rounded.

The icon nearby

Combine your visit with Kasteeltuinen Arcen. First romp among trees, sand and ropes, then wander further among more than 15 gardens, water features and the castle. That combo is gold, precisely because your day alternates so nicely between playing outside and quietly looking around.
https://www.kasteeltuinen.nl/nl/

We do our best to provide you with the right info, but before leaving, always check the site's own website for the very latest updates.