Kennemerduinen

What you will find here

The Kennemerduinen near Overveen is a large dune area just behind the coastline, managed by PWN. The landscape shifts constantly: open shifting dunes, wet valleys with pools, dense woodland and low scrub. That variety makes the area photographically rewarding throughout the year. But it is autumn that really works here. The ferns turn orange, the birches go yellow, the light sits low, and that combination with mist over the dune valleys produces images that are hard to match almost anywhere else.

The wisents

The big difference from most other dune areas is the presence of large grazing animals. Wisents, konik horses and red deer roam freely in a fenced section of the terrain. The wisents are the main draw. They are enormous animals, and if you are lucky they will be standing close to the path. Bring a longer focal length, somewhere around 200 to 400mm. You will be keeping your distance, and that is as it should be. Early in the morning the animals are more active and the light is better. Come in autumn during the red deer rut: the antlers, the behaviour and the light together give you material that cannot be planned but works all the better for it.

Light and compositions

The area is oriented east to west. In the morning the light falls low over the dune tops and casts long shadows across the sand. Pools are best photographed in calm, windless conditions early in the morning, when the reflections are still undisturbed. For woodland lanes and vistas, overcast light often works better than direct sun, because the contrast stays manageable. A wide-angle for the sense of space and a telephoto for details and animals: that is what I bring here myself.

Practical information

You can park at the entrance on the Zeeweg in Overveen. There is a small parking charge. The area is accessible daily, but opening times can vary by season. Some zones, including the grazing area, are only accessible via the designated paths. Stick to those, not just because of the rules, but because you will actually see the animals better that way. They grow used to people on the paths and behave more naturally. No special permit or exemption is needed for regular photography visits.

Sources and further reading

• PWN Natuurgebieden: Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland
• Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland (officiële site)
• Wikipedia: Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland