May 4, 2026
If you cycle from Noordwijkerhout towards Vogelenzang, you pass one of the most beautiful nature reserves in the Netherlands — the Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes. Entrance Panneland is my favorite starting point. Here, away from the hustle and bustle of the Keukenhof and the bulb fields, you find a world of peace, water, and wild nature.
A Common Whitethroat in all its glory
I had barely entered the AWD when I heard him—the Lesser Whitethroat. This small, inconspicuous little bird has a loud and varied song that carries far across the dune landscape. With my telephoto zoom, I waited patiently until he landed atop a hawthorn bush in full bloom and resumed his song. A moment never to be forgotten.
Crystal-clear water in the dunes
Deeper into the area, small and large canals meander through the water catchment area. The water is so clear that you can clearly see the sandy bottom. A solitary tree on the bank, a simple little bridge over the water, the reflection of the sky in the still pool behind it. The AWD has something timeless about it, as if you are walking through a painting.
The dandelion as the main character
Sometimes you don’t have to look far for a beautiful image. This spent dandelion, standing proudly upright in the dune grass with a small group of pine trees in the background, begged to be captured. Small but perfect — that is how macro photography in nature works.
The ornamental onion field near De Zilk
Just off the ADW, along the road near De Zilk, lies a remarkable spectacle that most passers-by miss. A vast field full of flowering ornamental onions, hundreds of purple bulbs on slender stems, as far as the eye can see. Under a partly cloudy sky, this is a scene that makes you stop to immortalize it in peace. Because there was little to no wind, I was able to use the focus-shift function on my camera, where a series of photos is taken and the focus point is automatically shifted. The result is that, via post-processing—from front to back—you get a very sharp photo.
The Bulb Region is much more than just tulips!
All photos were taken in May 2026 in and around the Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes, Panneland entrance, and the ornamental onion field near De Zilk. The photos are for sale as wall decoration via FotoAmsterdam.com.
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