Overloonsche Duinen and Helderse Duinen Loop

This is a long, low-relief dune-and-forest loop of roughly 45 km / 28 miles with essentially 0 m / 0 ft of net elevation gain—but don’t let the “flat” profile fool you: the effort comes from soft sand, wind exposure, and the sheer distance. Expect a mix of pine woodland, open drift-sand dunes, heath patches, and coastal dune terrain, with frequent transitions between firm paths and energy-sapping sandy stretches.

Because “Overloonsche Duinen” (near Overloon, North Brabant) and “Helderse Duinen” (near Den Helder/Huisduinen, North Holland) are far apart, this “loop” is best treated as a route concept that links two dune areas rather than a single continuous local circuit. If you’re planning it as one outing, you’ll need to decide whether you’re: - doing a single 45 km day that stitches together dune segments with transport/logistics, or
- splitting it into two hikes (one in Overloon, one in Den Helder) on separate days.

Where to start (practical trailhead landmarks)

If you need a reliable, easy-to-find start point in each area:

• Overloonsche Duinen (Overloon): a common access point is by Oorlogsmuseum Overloon (War Museum Overloon), Museumpark 1, 5825 AM Overloon. (oorlogsmuseum.nl)
  
• Helderse Duinen (Den Helder / Huisduinen): a classic coastal access point is Fort Kijkduin, Admiraal Verhuellplein 1, 1789 AX Huisduinen. (fortkijkduin.nl)
  Another very useful “services-and-trails” hub is Visitor Centre De Helderse Vallei, where older satnav units are advised to use Jan Verfailleweg 620, Den Helder. (dhvold.preview6.raadhuis.com)
  

If you’re using HiiKER to follow the intended line, match your start to whichever of these landmarks sits closest to the first trackpoint.

Getting there (car + public transport)

Overloon (Oorlogsmuseum Overloon / Museumpark area) - By car: Overloon is straightforward to reach from the A73 corridor; parking is typically oriented around the museum/sportspark area used by many local walking routes. (oorlogsmuseum.nl)
- By public transport: the museum notes a practical option is bus access via Overloon, bus stop “Museumlaan”, with line 82 from Boxmeer (direction Venray) on weekdays. (oorlogsmuseum.nl)

Den Helder / Helderse Duinen - By train: several established walking routes in the Helderse Duinen area use Den Helder Zuid station as a start because intercity trains stop there. (visitwadden.nl)
- By car: for De Helderse Vallei, the visitor centre guidance specifically mentions using Jan Verfailleweg 620, Den Helder if your navigation database is old. (dhvold.preview6.raadhuis.com)
- Fort access: Fort Kijkduin is in Huisduinen and is a well-signed destination on the coast. (fortkijkduin.nl)

What the walking feels like (surface, pacing, and effort)

Over 45 km / 28 miles, plan your day around surfaces:

• Firm forest tracks & compacted paths: these let you bank easy kilometers early—ideal for settling into a sustainable pace.
• Loose dune sand / drift-sand sections: these are the “hidden climbs” of a flat hike. Your heart rate rises, cadence shortens, and ankles/calves work harder. If you’re trying to hit a time goal, assume your average speed drops noticeably in sandy stretches.
• Coastal exposure (Helderse Duinen side): wind can be a bigger factor than terrain—especially if you’re on open dune crests or near the beach.

Even with minimal elevation gain, a realistic moving-time estimate for many hikers is 8–11 hours depending on sand depth, wind, and breaks.

Navigation (keep it simple)

Dune and forest networks often