Some of the most fun playgrounds here sit in woods and dunes, built from logs, ropes and sand. Kids cross rope bridges between trees, hop stepping stones over a stream and ride cable slides into dune sand. We added a few neighborhood speeltuinen too, with zip lines, trampolines and water play. Here's what we checked, from a Haagse Bos play forest to a nature playground with its own stream.
Speelbos Robin Hood is a natural play forest in the Haagse Bos, run by Staatsbosbeheer. Kids follow an adventure route over rope and suspension bridges, fly along a cable slide, swing through the trees on ropes and take on a climbing wall.
For a slower pace there is a big rope swing to lie back in and a tree trunk where kids sit and tell each other stories.
Natuurspeelplaats Zuiderpret is a nature playground at the edge of the big play meadow in the Zuiderpark. A fast-flowing stream runs through an open area between the bushes, and kids cross it on stepping stones, logs, swinging ropes and footbridges.
A footbridge between the hills leads to a lookout tower, a crawl tube runs through another hill, and a separate section is set aside for children under 6.
A public playground in Westbroekpark, the 18-hectare park between Madurodam and Scheveningen. Kids get a climbing castle, swings and a zip line, with a big play lawn right beside it for ball games.
The rest of the park is worth a loop: a duck pond, sculptures by 20th-century Dutch artists, and the rose garden, where about 20,000 rose bushes flower in summer.
't Speelduin is a natural playground set in the sand of the Westduinpark dunes, just behind the Duindorp neighborhood. The 50-meter play area is mostly wooden: a big frame with slides, a cable run, balance beams, climbing bridges, a tire swing and tree trunks to clamber over. Toddlers get their own sandpit with little houses and a low bridge, and benches line the edge for parents.
A woodland playground in the Bosjes van Pex, a 24-hectare nature area on an old dune ridge, named after the Pex family who farmed there. The equipment sits in sand under tall trees: a climbing frame with slide and rope ladders, a big swing, a tire swing, a climbing bridge, a balance beam and stepping stones, plus a toddler sandpit and slide. Benches, logs and picnic tables seat parents.
Het Apenbos is a fenced playground tucked under the dense tree canopy at the edge of the Bosjes van Poot woods. Kids from the local scout group and the school next door helped plan it, and the result is mostly wood: climbing frames with rope nets, rope bridges to balance across, swings and a slide, all set on wood chips.
Monkeybos is a natural play forest in the Meijendel dunes, a short walk from De Tapuit, the visitor center of water company Dunea. Kids let off steam among the trees while parents rest nearby.
The Vossentocht, a trail of 10 small nature tasks for the youngest, starts beside it. The Duincampus, with three themed outdoor routes for ages 6 to 12, begins at De Tapuit.
Speeltuin Westerpret is the outdoor playground of the Westerpark bowling and recreation center, and its operator calls it the biggest in the Zoetermeer area. Kids climb, slide, bounce on trampolines, swing and ride a zip line, and there is water play and a separate toddler zone.
Mini golf and kart rides are paid extras inside the grounds.
A neighborhood playground in the heart of Oud-Rijswijk, kept open by a team of volunteers with Welzijn Rijswijk. It was recently rebuilt with new climbing and slide equipment, a zip line, a sandpit and a small caged football pitch (a pannakooi). Parents and neighbors use it as a meeting spot while kids play.
Scheveningse Bosjes is a wooded park on old dune land between the city center and Scheveningen, with rolling paths for walking, cycling and horse riding. Kids head for the big sand playground, with a skate park next to it. A large pond, the Waterpartij, sits on the sea side, and Madurodam borders the park to the north. Monuments and sculptures line the paths, including a Claes Oldenburg artwork.
Some of the most fun playgrounds here sit in woods and dunes, built from logs, ropes and sand. Kids cross rope bridges between trees, hop stepping stones over a stream and ride cable slides into dune sand. We added a few neighborhood speeltuinen too, with zip lines, trampolines and water play. Here's what we checked, from a Haagse Bos play forest to a nature playground with its own stream.
Speelbos Robin Hood is a natural play forest in the Haagse Bos, run by Staatsbosbeheer. Kids follow an adventure route over rope and suspension bridges, fly along a cable slide, swing through the trees on ropes and take on a climbing wall.
For a slower pace there is a big rope swing to lie back in and a tree trunk where kids sit and tell each other stories.
Natuurspeelplaats Zuiderpret is a nature playground at the edge of the big play meadow in the Zuiderpark. A fast-flowing stream runs through an open area between the bushes, and kids cross it on stepping stones, logs, swinging ropes and footbridges.
A footbridge between the hills leads to a lookout tower, a crawl tube runs through another hill, and a separate section is set aside for children under 6.
A public playground in Westbroekpark, the 18-hectare park between Madurodam and Scheveningen. Kids get a climbing castle, swings and a zip line, with a big play lawn right beside it for ball games.
The rest of the park is worth a loop: a duck pond, sculptures by 20th-century Dutch artists, and the rose garden, where about 20,000 rose bushes flower in summer.
't Speelduin is a natural playground set in the sand of the Westduinpark dunes, just behind the Duindorp neighborhood. The 50-meter play area is mostly wooden: a big frame with slides, a cable run, balance beams, climbing bridges, a tire swing and tree trunks to clamber over. Toddlers get their own sandpit with little houses and a low bridge, and benches line the edge for parents.
A woodland playground in the Bosjes van Pex, a 24-hectare nature area on an old dune ridge, named after the Pex family who farmed there. The equipment sits in sand under tall trees: a climbing frame with slide and rope ladders, a big swing, a tire swing, a climbing bridge, a balance beam and stepping stones, plus a toddler sandpit and slide. Benches, logs and picnic tables seat parents.
Het Apenbos is a fenced playground tucked under the dense tree canopy at the edge of the Bosjes van Poot woods. Kids from the local scout group and the school next door helped plan it, and the result is mostly wood: climbing frames with rope nets, rope bridges to balance across, swings and a slide, all set on wood chips.
Monkeybos is a natural play forest in the Meijendel dunes, a short walk from De Tapuit, the visitor center of water company Dunea. Kids let off steam among the trees while parents rest nearby.
The Vossentocht, a trail of 10 small nature tasks for the youngest, starts beside it. The Duincampus, with three themed outdoor routes for ages 6 to 12, begins at De Tapuit.
Speeltuin Westerpret is the outdoor playground of the Westerpark bowling and recreation center, and its operator calls it the biggest in the Zoetermeer area. Kids climb, slide, bounce on trampolines, swing and ride a zip line, and there is water play and a separate toddler zone.
Mini golf and kart rides are paid extras inside the grounds.
A neighborhood playground in the heart of Oud-Rijswijk, kept open by a team of volunteers with Welzijn Rijswijk. It was recently rebuilt with new climbing and slide equipment, a zip line, a sandpit and a small caged football pitch (a pannakooi). Parents and neighbors use it as a meeting spot while kids play.
Scheveningse Bosjes is a wooded park on old dune land between the city center and Scheveningen, with rolling paths for walking, cycling and horse riding. Kids head for the big sand playground, with a skate park next to it. A large pond, the Waterpartij, sits on the sea side, and Madurodam borders the park to the north. Monuments and sculptures line the paths, including a Claes Oldenburg artwork.
