Rolleiflex Series: Winter Forest Walk in the Dunes
As the dark winter days set in, I try to embrace the cozy season; however, as a nature lover, I'm always eager to get back outside, and sometimes, daily walks in Vondelpark just aren't enough. Spending a brisk, sunny afternoon forest bathing with my camera was the perfect remedy to beat the seasonal depression and claustrophobia that creep in every winter. Seeking a peaceful retreat from the city, we packed our cameras, rented a car, and set out for a photo walk in the serene Dutch dunes. Taking a slow walk through the woods was also the perfect moment to practice shooting on my Rolleiflex 2.8F.
Our destination was Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen, a 3400-hectare nature preserve and dune restoration area between the coastal towns of Zandvoort and Noordwijk. The Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen dates back to 1850 and it's part of a water filtration system that processes around 2/3 of the water for Amsterdam’s thirsty residents. This was my first visit and I’m keen to return when spring rolls around!
Wandering through this area was new to me, but it’s a popular spot for local nature enthusiasts. While quietly watching for rabbits and deer, we stood in awe of majestic tall pine trees and inspected the roots of those that had fallen over. Deer, foxes, and a wide variety of birds can be found in the area, so be on the lookout and bring a zoom lens if you're into nature photography. All the photos in this story were taken with my Rolleiflex 2.8F and Kodak Gold 200 120mm film.
Notes For Your Visit
The drive from Amsterdam's city center to the Waterleidingduinen is around 40 minutes. The park is open from sunrise until sunset, with four entrances to choose from. We chose the 'Panneland‘ entry area with an adorably quaint pancake house. This was a perfect spot to warm up after our chilly walk outside. Simply pass through the gate after purchasing a €1.50 ticket. If arriving by bike, you can cycle up and park at the entry, but to protect the dunes, bikes aren’t allowed inside.
There are several paths to choose from and our trek took about 3 hours. We started along a winding trail, over dune hills and through the pine tree forest, looking out for foxes, deer, and rabbits. Then, we made our way over the sandy dunes, excited to discover many spotted deer and a faint view of the shore on the horizon. During the winter, make sure to plan ahead so you turn around to walk back and arrive back at the entry gate with enough time to spare before sunset because there are no lights in the area. We took our time on the way in and then turned around and chased the sun back, arriving at the pancake house for a hot chocolate with rum and a slice of appeltaart while watching the last bit of sunlight flicker through the trees.
Photowalk & Forest Bathing
The Waterleidingduinen is a great spot for forest bathing and photography on a bright and crisp winter day. If you aren't familiar with forest bathing, it's all about the therapeutic benefits experienced by immersing yourself in nature. This Japanese practice, known as shinrin-yoku, reduces stress, anxiety, and depression while enhancing your immune system and sleep quality. Whether it's daily walks through the park, spending time in the garden or a trip to the forest, breathing fresh air, soaking up sunlight, and connecting with nature's beauty is a simple yet powerful way to find inner balance and inspire creativity — it always works for me!
At this time of year, the sun is very rare, and the light we get fades early, so we were lucky to start our day with a clear blue sky followed by a golden afternoon sun that shimmered through the mostly bare trees. Listening to the birds while chasing light and shadows enhanced my creative inspiration. Although I must admit the Rolleiflex 2.8F is more cumbersome than other cameras, and it's not an ideal choice for wildlife. That said, I love the depth of field and layers of natural textures I could capture with this camera, and I had fun creating sunbursts, too! Framing shots with a backward viewfinder is a unique challenge, and I'm getting more confident with every roll of film. I used a 120mm roll of Kodak Gold 200 and am very happy with the results; this film is a great choice for warm tones like the golden light hitting the pine trees.
Do you have a favorite nature spot to visit near Amsterdam? Let me know!
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All photos taken with Rolleiflex 2.8F + Kodak Gold 200.
