Drents-Friese Wold

Forest, sand and a dark sky

The Drents-Friese Wold is one of the largest unbroken nature reserves in the Netherlands. Between Appelscha and Diever you find a mix of expansive deciduous forest, open drifting-sand plains and purple heathland. That variety is what makes this area so interesting for landscape photography. You don't have to walk far before the atmosphere changes completely.

The drifting sand is the most versatile element. The sand ridges and wind-blown hollows give you lines and depth, even on overcast days when the light is soft and even. A wide-angle lens captures those plains at their most expansive, but a short telephoto somewhere around 85 to 135mm helps you set the texture of the sand and the edge of the forest more sharply against each other.

Autumn is the strongest season

The autumn colours in the mixed forest make the period from mid-October to early November particularly rewarding. The low morning light comes in at just the right angle to draw long shadows between the trees. On misty days the mist lingers in the hollows for a long time, and the forest becomes something almost abstract. Go early. Before sunrise if you can.

The heather blooms in August. That gives a completely different palette: warm purple-pink tones that work well in backlight during the early evening.

Astrophotography under a dark sky

The Drents-Friese Wold falls within the dark-sky zone of Drenthe, one of the few regions in the Netherlands where light pollution is low enough for serious astrophotography. The drifting-sand plains are ideal as a foreground: open, without rows of trees blocking your horizon, and with enough texture for an interesting composition. Shoot with a fast wide-angle lens, ISO 1600 to 3200, and keep your shutter speed short enough to render the stars as points of light.

Check the moon calendar before you go. A full moon overwhelms the finer structures in the Milky Way. New moon during a clear spell is the best scenario.

Practical

Parking is available at several entry points, including at the Bosrandweg near Appelscha and at the visitor centre in Appelscha itself. Roads through the area are partly closed to motorised traffic, but the walking distances are manageable. Night photography is permitted on the paths and open plains, but follow the guidelines of Staatsbosbeheer, the organisation that manages this area. Drones are not permitted without an exemption.

Sources and further reading

• Staatsbosbeheer – Drents-Friese Wold
• Nationaal Park Drents-Friese Wold
• Donkerte Drenthe (Dark Sky Park)
• Wikipedia – Drents-Friese Wold