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5 great winter trips from the Netherlands

5 great winter trips from the Netherlands

by Alexandra van Kampen   |  Updated: 19 January 2024

If you're on the hunt for inspiration for ways to brighten up your winter season, then this list might be just the thing you need! Instead of staying in the Netherlands when the days are dark and the weather is dreary, why not take a look further afield and book a holiday abroad?

Magical getaways perfect for this time of year

Winter getaways over the border are quite popular in the Netherlands, as many locations with great views and facilities can be reached quite easily by car, train or plane. Have a look at our pick of five fun and active winter escapes from the Netherlands:

1. Go skiing in the Kitzbühel Alps, Austria

Of course, there are plenty of gorgeous ski resorts worth visiting across Europe, but this option is a popular one for a reason. If you're a winter sports fanatic, then head on over to the Kitzbühel Alps in Tirol, Austria. In between the Kitzbühel Horn and the impressive Wilder Kaiser mountains, you will find the world-famous ski slopes of the Hahnenkamm.

With beautiful views of the surrounding area, you can follow routes for hiking and cross-country skiing in one of the top winter sporting areas in Europe.

Image: lightsandsquares via Shutterstock.com. Kitzbuehel Alpes Tirol Austria

2. Go snowboarding in Les Deux Alpes, France

Another great choice for wintertime thrill seekers, Les Deux Alpes is the perfect area for keen snowboarders.

Equipped with excellent facilities, this winter sports village offers slopes for beginners and experienced boarders alike. Cross-country explorers can take beautiful hikes and skiers will definitely find some good descents, but it’s the snowboarders who really count Les Deux Alpes among their favourite spots.

Image: Dontsov Evgeny via Shutterstock.com. Les Deux Alpes resort France

3. Go husky sledding in Hausen-Roth, Germany

If you're looking for a seasonal destination but aren't too keen to get involved in all the winter sports mayhem, then this could be the option for you!

The beautiful landscape of Hausen-Roth in Germany is around 400 kilometres from the Dutch border, and the area hosts a beautiful UNESCO biosphere reserve with the great Rhön Park Hotel at a height of 700 metres.

Besides the breathtaking surrounding nature - which is perfect for exploring - this easily-accessible resort also offers the wonderful and unique opportunity to ride a husky sled!

Image: V. Belov via Shutterstock.com. Husky sledding Germany

4. Go in search of the Northern Lights in Norway

While occasionally you might be able to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights here in the Netherlands, for your best chance at spying this magical phenomenon you will have to head a little further north. 

If you opt to head over to Norway, then the wondrous winter landscapes above the Arctic Circle are absolutely stunning and offer a wealth of unique activities for you to enjoy. On excursions through the beautiful Lofoten, the Vesterålen Islands, the Trollfjord and Tromsø you can search for the legendary Northern Lights, or undertake a whale safari. On the road, the overwhelming beauty of the surrounding nature is sure to leave you stunned.

Image: Mumemories via Shutterstock.com.  Northern Lights Aurora borealis Lofoten Norway

5. Go de-stress and explore Lausanne, Switzerland

Finally, if you're not too fussed about getting in touch with nature and prefer the hustle and bustle of a city, then don't worry there are plenty of options for you too! Instead of heading over to one of the many ski resorts in Switzerland, why not visit Lausanne! While it isn't a massive city, there are lots of enticing shops and delicious restaurants serving local food, so you can gorge yourself on all the melted cheese you can take. 

The city sits on Lake Geneva, and so offers some truly gorgeous views of the local surroundings, as well as beautiful examples of elegant architecture, and if you want to explore more of Switzerland then it isn't too far from the slopes and other, larger cities like Geneva.

Image: Boris Stroujko via Shutterstock.com. Lausanne Switzerland

Make the most of the winter at these gorgeous holiday destinations

Well, there you have it: plenty of ideas to inspire your next winter getaway. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your passport and your diary and get planning! Where is your favourite place to spend the winter season? Let us know in the comments below!

Alexandra van Kampen

Author

Alexandra van Kampen

English and Japanese theatre and culture are my forte. My mother was raised in England, and my grandmother in Japan. I studied Japanese Language and Culture, and Film and Photographic...

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wonko 06:32 | 28 September 2019

Les Deux Alpes without question, the worst snowboarding resort in Europe. Typical transit time from chalet to top of slope around an hour with limited number of short slopes. Nothing of any interest to the snowboarder. Nothing particularly challenging in terms of technical slopes, no border park 1/2 or 1/4 pipes. Day ends in a heavily mogaled black or a tediously narrow and long blue back to the village. That's assuming you last a whole day. You're likely to complete ever run by lunchtime and a whole week to go on repeat... yawn. To be fair, when I visited, the 'sunny' side was closed (no snow) but again, it could be seen that the runs are short and limited. So assuming it has snow and is open, well you'll easily do that after lunch... I suppose on day 2 you could do the two sides in reverse but remember you'll loose over an hour in transit between the two. Night life is limited and there are, or were, no buses or taxis after 6pm which is a problem as most chalets.are >3km from the centre and of course, uphill. Probably best visited in the summer for the BMX park which looked awesome under the snow.