To usher in autumn, Gentlemen's Watch was invited to spend a relaxing night at the Leonardo Royal Hotel The Hague. And to discover the surroundings there, they took us on a very original activity: bird watching. Of course we don't say no to that...
Text: Rosan Bijpost
Indeed, this is the season to spot unusual birds. Millions of birds fly from their breeding grounds across our country to their wintering grounds during this period. This autumn migration is the most massive movement of animals in the world. And the best places to see this bird migration are along the Dutch coast. How convenient.
The Leonardo Royal Hotel where we stay has, besides pleasant rooms and facilities, an ideal location: in no time you can be in the heart of The Hague city or in the middle of nature. And now that autumn has made its appearance, the leaves are falling and the wind is picking up, it's a great time to head for the dunes.
Bird watching time
We get on the bikes at the hotel's disposal, pass the most beautiful houses and before we know it we are in the dunes of Meijendel. Where none other than the Jesse Zwart - professional and passionate birdwatcher - introduces us to the Wheatear and the Turnip. We see grasshoppers 'hopping' away from flying birds of prey and watch through Jesse's special binoculars how a Peregrine Falcon feasts on a just-caught pigeon. Fascinated, we watch the tiniest details revealed through the binoculars as feathers flutter down beside us. This is just another way to experience the dunes.
On the way back, we see the sun slowly sinking behind Scheveningen's Ferris wheel. Nice destination for tomorrow. But first, we end this day in the hotel restaurant where a selection of shared dining snacks await us: from gyoza to ravioli and from bavette to dorado; there's a bit of everything, but thankfully no poultry for a while...
Autumn weekend break
We were introduced to the The Hague branch, but Leonardo Royal hotels can be found all over the country. From Maastricht to IJmuiden and from Amsterdam to Eindhoven. Many with beautiful walking routes through nature just a stone's throw away. Can you picture it? Waking up with a dip in the pool, followed by a walk through the woods or dunes, recovering in the sauna and then feasting in the restaurant. With summer over, and 'normal life' already a few weeks away, this is a wonderful way to escape the hustle and bustle.
Examples of scenic routes
Nature Walks can, of course, be anywhere. Still, there are a few gems we'd like to list. Just steps away from several Leonardo Hotels, you can explore these beautiful hiking trails:
- Bleek en Berg - Zuid-Kennemerland National Park (IJmuiden)
- Koppen en Kuilenroute - Zuid-Kennemerland National Park (IJmuiden)
- Diemerbos - Near Amsterdam (Amsterdam)
- De Driehoek - Oostvaardersplassen (Lelystad)
- Knot Round - Oud-Alblas (Papendrecht)
- Strabrechtse Heide - Eindhoven (Eindhoven)
- Mettenberg quarry - View over the Maas valley, round trip from Bemelen (Maastricht)
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