Haarrijnseplas (Utrecht, NETHERLANDS)

During our house-sitting over this Coronavirus time, it has been unseasonally hot in The Netherlands. Hot, humid and well... hot hot hot! Normally, we would take the opportunity to go to the beach at Kijkduin or Scheveningen in Den Haag in the evening... or try to find a forest or park to hide away from the afternoon Sun! However, Utrecht is not place with an easy beach... as it is an inland city! In fact, many Utrecht people end up taking a train to Den Haag to use OUR beaches!

Coming from Australia, I have to say that the European beaches leave much to be desired... they really aren't quite the same thing. Still... water is water on a hot day!

Haarrijnseplas ("plas" is the Dutch word for puddle... or pee...) is the local inland lake (around 70 hectares) with enclosed areas for swimming in sweet water (not salt water). The area is regularly filtered to remove any outbreaks of blue-green algae (which is a hazard for many city lakes...) and appears to be a very popular place for people in the area who don't want to make the hour long (or more) train ride to the coast. (or like me, don't like the feel of salt water!).

Haarrijnseplas is situated outside of the main city of Utrecht, closest to the train stations of Terwijde or Leidsche Rijn (sprinter trains on the Utrecht-Leiden line). However, it is still a bit of a trek or a bus ride from those stations... so you will find that many people will be arriving by car (it is just off the A2 motorway). There is quite limited parking places in the local parking areas, so you might find that you either need to park your car much further away... or take public transport!

However, the real Dutch way to get here is definitely by bike! You will find that there is quite a bit of bike parking spaces.. but even still, it does fill up quite quickly! Apparently, you could canoe from the area where we were staying (Terwijde) through the canals and joined waterways... I might try that out one day!

Now, being the people that we are... we would get down here around 9 in the morning and stay until around 12 before the Sun and heat became too unbearable! This also had the added bonus in the avoidance of the crazy crowds and impossible parking situations. As you can see, at 9 in the morning, you have the beach area pretty much to yourself and a handful of others... by around 11 in the morning, you have many more people and the car parks will be full on a sunny warm day.

This is an inland lake... so, if you are expecting some crazy wave action... you will be bitterly disappointed! However, it does also mean that the water is warmer than the cold Channel seawater. The lack of waves and enclosed water area means that it is also quite a safe place for children to play in... although, my kids did miss the waves quite a bit... but that was more than made up for by the ability to swim easily and wade around in the water without being dunked!

So, if you find yourself in the summer in the area of Utrecht... instead of sweating it out in a hot house, I can definitely recommend coming to the Haarrijnseplas... just make sure you come early to avoid the crowds (or bring a bike).... but not too early, don't take my spot!