€500, 10 days, 200 kilometers across the Netherlands — and I had no idea what was waiting for me. Setting off on the Pieterpad as a solo woman turned out to be both easier and more challenging than expected. After 10 stages from Pieterburen to the middle of the Netherlands, I’m sharing what nobody tells you about hiking the Pieterpad: the real costs, smart accommodation tips, and why this is the best way to get to know the Netherlands on foot.
After years of hiking, I’d never actually walked the Pieterpad myself. That changed in 2024. I hiked 14 days on the Pieterpad. In this update I share all my tips for hiking the Pieterpad yourself. I experienced it as a really lovely walk through the varied landscape of the northern and eastern Netherlands.
The Pieterpad route
The Pieterpad is a beautifully laid-out trail running from Pieterburen to the Sint-Pietersberg, alternating between paved roads, sandy paths and forest trails. Wherever there’s a choice, the route favors unpaved paths and the prettiest nature trails.
The Pieterpad starts at the very top of Groningen and runs down to Limburg through the varied landscape of the northern, eastern and southern Netherlands. How long is the entire Pieterpad? The whole route is roughly 500 kilometers long and divided into 26 stages.
- How long is a single day’s stage on the Pieterpad?
The standard stages (if you want to do the route in 26 stages) are 15 to 22 kilometers per day. These are also the stages I kept to during my 10 days. By walking 10 stages, I reached the midpoint of the Pieterpad.
Looking for more of a challenge? Or would you rather cover shorter distances?
The Pieterpad has thought of that too. The official website lists both longer and shorter stage options. So you can hike the Pieterpad in 16 stages of 25 to 35 kilometers (big steps) or 38 stages of 10 to 15 kilometers (small steps).
Background of the Pieterpad route
I honestly hadn’t wondered who actually laid out this beautiful trail. So I loved coming across a monument a few kilometers before Sleen, dedicated to the founder of the Pieterpad. Mrs. C. E. Goorhuis-Tjalsma (Toos), together with her friend Bertje Jens, mapped out the 490-kilometer Pieterpad between 1978 and 1983. Such a nice story to read: another independent woman who simply did what she wanted!
Naturally, I couldn’t resist doing a headstand right there on the plain, in front of the Blick in den Stein monument.
Monument for the founder of the Pieterpad – yoga headstand
Map of the Pieterpad – the full route
You can find all the information, including this clear overview map of the entire route, on the official Pieterpad website. During my 10 days on the Pieterpad, I checked the website and read through sections every day.
Source: Pieterpad map Official Pieterpad website
Is the Pieterpad busy?
During my 10 days hiking the Pieterpad, I really enjoyed occasionally running into other hikers, alone or in pairs, who were also walking the trail. I certainly didn’t find it busy, although my Vrienden op de Fiets hosts sometimes mentioned that things were fully booked. I never noticed any inconvenience from that myself, and the addresses where I slept are of course also used by cyclists.
Like every popular hiking trail, the Pieterpad gets a little busier every year. But considering that almost everyone walks at roughly the same pace, you really only see each other when you stop, or when you’re sitting at a terrace café somewhere. So mostly in the evenings, at your accommodation or in the village. If you’re hiking solo, an encounter like that is actually really nice!
Pieterpad solo as a woman: is it safe?
Hiking the Pieterpad alone as a woman? That makes some women wonder whether it’s actually safe. I never felt unsafe for a single moment. You sometimes walk through remote areas and meet very few people. The people I did come across were hikers or cyclists, all with the same goal.
As a solo woman on the Pieterpad, people regularly ask: “But is that safe?” After 10 days, I can say: absolutely. Hiking the Pieterpad solo as a woman felt safer than plenty of city centers.
Why:
- You pass through many picturesque villages
- There are always other hikers or cyclists around
- Vrienden op de Fiets hosts are wonderfully welcoming
- Every stage ends in a village with amenities
Being a solo woman on the Pieterpad actually comes with mostly advantages:
- You set your own pace (no compromises)
- It’s easier to connect with locals and fellow hikers
- Flexibility in planning and breaks
- Time for reflection and personal growth
At the back of my mind was a wolf encounter (in Dutch) I’d once had, but nothing like that happened this time. A photo would of course have been very cool, at a safe distance, naturally! And then we’d both simply have continued on our own path.
Pieterpad accommodation
I arranged almost all of my overnight stays through Vrienden op de Fiets (Friends on Bikes). I found it absolutely ideal. It was my first experience with this kind of accommodation, and for a solo traveler in the Netherlands, I think it’s the best way to travel affordably. With Vrienden op de Fiets you pay €8 for a membership that gives you access to many overnight addresses across the Netherlands, and a few just across the border too.
Out of 10 nights, I had to put in a bit more effort to find accommodation 3 times. In Rolde there simply weren’t many options, so it was lucky I could take the bus to Assen and get driven back to Rolde by car the next day!
On two of the following days I booked a campsite instead: a bell tent with a bed in Schoonloo, and a retro caravan in Sleen. And that was honestly no hardship at all. The caravan was a bit pricier, but the bell tent in Schoonloo turned out to be a really great alternative, with a bit more privacy too.
You can, of course, also look for nice hotels and B&Bs along the Pieterpad. There are plenty of options to find along the way. Your daily budget will naturally be a bit higher, but you’ll enjoy a little more privacy too.
Cost of hiking the Pieterpad
It’s genuinely useful to know what a day of hiking the Pieterpad actually costs. If you arrange your accommodation through Vrienden op de Fiets like I did, you’re looking at roughly €25 for overnight stay and breakfast per day. On top of that comes lunch and dinner, and you can make that as expensive as you like. Do you eat out twice a day on a terrace? A nice cup of coffee in the morning with maybe a slice of cake, and another café stop in the afternoon?
My average Pieterpad costs, aside from accommodation, came to roughly another €20 to €25 per day. Sometimes I had a proper lunch on a terrace, or a good dinner in the evening. Other times I just ate a snack or sandwich/salad from my bag, bought at the supermarket along the way.
Many of the addresses have a kettle in the room so you can make tea or coffee. Or I make broth: I often carry bouillon cubes in my bag, which is really nice at the end of a long day of hiking the Pieterpad.
- Budget around €50 per day for hiking the Pieterpad (check current Vrienden op de Fiets rates before you go, as they can change)
Pieterpad trail markings
Like every long-distance trail crossing provincial borders, the Pieterpad is marked with red and white trail markers. The little flags are easy to spot, and the arrows clearly show you which way to go. Sometimes multiple paths cross in the same area and you might hesitate for a moment; if you look a bit further down the path, you’ll usually already spot a follow-up marker on a tree or similar to confirm you’re on the right track.
You can also look back along the route. How is the red-and-white marker meant to be read if you’re coming from the other direction? That tells you which way you should be heading next.
Pieterpad GPX file
Despite the clear red-and-white markings on the Pieterpad, I still found it useful to download the GPX file. You sometimes hesitate for a moment after a long stretch, or you might want to check how far along you are on that day’s stage, for example. This GPX file can be downloaded from the official Pieterpad website. I use the simple, free GPX Viewer app to view these files.
Can you make it a pilgrimage on the Pieterpad?
The Pieterpad isn’t officially a pilgrimage route. But more and more people feel the need to walk multiple days in a row, in that true pilgrimage spirit. To meet that need, a walking passport has been specially developed for Pieterpad hikers. Note that this is an unofficial, third-party passport, not something issued by the Pieterpad organization itself. When I was hiking the Pieterpad, I did notice a few spots where you could get a stamp.
Looking for a pilgrimage in Spain instead? Check out my Camino hiking trip.
Why the Pieterpad is perfect for solo female hikers
Because you run into fellow hikers every single day, hiking the Pieterpad alone actually feels really nice. You quickly feel part of something bigger. Even in the places you pass through, you notice that people recognize you as a Pieterpad hiker. Sleeping at Vrienden op de Fiets addresses also meant I got to know other people who were hiking or cycling the Pieterpad too.
Packing list for hiking the Pieterpad
Naturally, I packed as little as possible. I did bring my laptop so I could get some work done for this website. Beyond that, it’s roughly the same packing list I use for my pilgrimage trips, so I’m happy to share the link to that list. It was lovely weather when I hiked, so if it’s cooler for you, swap the shorts for long pants and a t-shirt for a sweater, and pack an extra jacket. Otherwise, the packing list for hiking trips stays the same.
Packing list for hiking and pilgrimage trips
Abroad I usually hike with trekking poles. I rarely do that in the Netherlands, but because I was walking multiple days in a row with several kilos on my back, I did use them on the Pieterpad. Want to hike with trekking poles too?
Order your trekking poles here.
Food on the Pieterpad
You can actually almost always buy something to eat in a village along the way, or grab a bite on a terrace. There’s really only one stage where this doesn’t quite work out. Take stage 5, Rolde to Schoonloo, for example. As soon as I reached Schoonloo, I immediately ordered something to eat on a lovely terrace.
My tip: make sure you can top up your energy, and always carry something in your backpack.
What I always have in my backpack is something to eat and drink. A few energy bars, a treat or a piece of fruit is never a bad idea. Assuming you might suddenly get hungry along the way and still have a few kilometers left to walk gives you a good buffer.
Every now and then along the Pieterpad you pass lovely little rest spots where people have created beautiful, unique places for Pieterpad hikers. Examples include the wheelhouse at Wetsingerzijl, or rest point ‘t Glint near Lemele.
What I also always carry with me is bouillon or a light instant soup. Really nice to drink at the end of the afternoon when you’re worn out, especially on warm days.
Transport to and from the Pieterpad
If you’re hiking the Pieterpad in separate stages, you’ll likely need to travel to the starting point or back from the endpoint. Public transport is widely used for this. Make sure to bring a bank card or your OV-chipkaart to check in.
Can you cycle the Pieterpad?
Yes, absolutely: the Pieterfietspad (Pieterpad cycling route) exists. This cycling route is about 580 km long and connects all the stage towns of the Pieterpad hiking route. Dedicated cycling maps can be ordered via the website (in Dutch). I came across a number of Pieterpad cyclists at the Vrienden op de Fiets addresses.
Are you going to hike the Pieterpad too? Read about my experience hiking 10 days in a row on the Pieterpad:
Pieterpad Daily Stages: 10 Days from Pieterburen to Hellendoorn
On every trip, I carry my own refillable water bottle #ad. My mission is to help eliminate single-use plastic, and refilling instead of throwing away is one of the easiest ways travelers can contribute to that. A foldable bag #ad for small purchases also saves unnecessary plastic waste along the way.
Also read:
- Blisters? How to prevent them
- Trekking poles – do you use them? Read more about the benefits
- Hiking and navigating alone – how do I do it?
- Go Mudflat Hiking Wadden Sea, The Netherlands
- Star-shaped Fortified Towns in The Netherlands
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