E2 in Netherlands: some comments

Some might envisage that a long distance walk through the Netherlands would be boring, and certainly there are no mountains to climb, however, it is unique and there are many things I liked. 

Firstly, you have to admire the huge Delta Works with its kilometres of dams, and all the dykes and drainage ditches that keep the country free of flooding. Faced with a wet and waterlogged country the Dutch have transformed it into a great, agricultural power house. Nature has not been forgotten, I passed through or by a number of nature reserves, and there were often patches of trees with wild undergrowth beneath by villages and in urban settings. 

Secondly, the E2 visits many sweet villages and attractive towns, the terraces of houses lining each side of a canal. Inevitably there will be a bar with chairs outside.

Thirdly, the Netherlands is certainly distinctive. The long straight lines of path, waterway, dykes and tree converging on some far distant point. The busy boats sailing up and down, hurrying to deliver or pick goods. The neatness, with tidy houses and clean streets, flat fields carefully managed. The separation of cycle paths and pedestrians from busy roads and farmer's fields.

In the Netherlands the E2 officially follows the LAW 5-1 footpath, which is maintained by Wandelnet, who are officially responsible for long distance trails in the country. However, I used a guidebook which described it as the GR5, an unofficial designation in the Netherlands, but one which appears on a few signs and links up with the GR5 in Belgium. As one might expect from the Dutch the waymarking of the LAW 5-1 was generally good with red and white markers typical of long distance paths in several European countries. There is also a day by day guide on the Wandelnet website, the E2 follows the Hook of Holland to Bergen op Zoom alternative. It is in Dutch but the maps and other details make sense in any language and Google Chrome can help translate. There was accommodation and campsites but in places it was sparse so planning ahead was needed. With the farming and intensive use of space it was not an area suitable for wild camping.

Although many people enjoy walking and I met a few hiking the LAW 5-1 / E2, cycling was far more popular. Speeding groups in lycra wiz by, old couples travel sedately, dogs and children are carried in trailers, every variety of cycling is there to see.

Link for start of blog in Netherlands.

Link for start of E2 blog.