Leersumse Veld

Heathland, pools and a world at ground level

Leersumse Veld lies in the middle of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, just outside the village of Leersum. It is a varied area: open heathland, small pools and dense patches of forest alternate within a relatively compact space. That variety is exactly what makes it interesting. You do not have to walk far to find a completely different kind of image.

For landscape photography the area works best in early morning light, when mist still hangs above the pools. That happens in late summer and autumn, when nights cool down quickly. Arrive early, well before sunrise. The car park on the Rijksstraatweg is a good starting point. From there you can reach both the open heath and the forest edges in a few minutes on foot.

October and November are the months for macro

Leersumse Veld is known as one of the better fungi spots in the Utrecht region. That comes down to the varied soil: sand, peat and leaf litter alternate, attracting a wide range of species. In October and November, after rainy spells, it can be impressive here. Fly agarics, chanterelles, webcaps, curtains of mycena on rotting wood, it is all there.

For macro photography I always bring a knee pad or a thin mat. You end up lying flat on the ground quickly, and the surface here is often wet. A 90mm or 100mm macro lens gives you enough distance from your subject to work with light without casting a shadow over everything. Using a flash or ring light can help in diffuse overcast conditions, but try without one too: side light in the early morning gives texture and depth to the caps.

Composition and season

During the heather season, roughly between August and September, the area is also worth visiting for wider landscape shots. A wide-angle lens on a low tripod, with the heather as foreground and the tree line as horizon, works well. Keep an eye on the sky: the Heuvelrug sometimes catches striking cloud formations.

Outside those periods it is quieter in terms of visitors. In winter, once the leaves have fallen, you get sight lines through the forest that simply do not exist in summer. Interesting for structural shots with longer focal lengths, 135mm or more, where you compress the scene and bring patterns in the tree trunks together.

The area is part of Nationaal Park Utrechtse Heuvelrug. Drones are not permitted here without an exemption. Stick to the paths and leave fungi where they are, even as a photographer.

Sources and further reading

• Nationaal Park Utrechtse Heuvelrug
• Staatsbosbeheer: Utrechtse Heuvelrug
• Wikipedia: Leersumse Veld