Hilversum’s Town Hall (Raadhuis), built in 1931, is considered the pinnacle of Willem Marinus Dudok’s work. You can visit it with an experienced guide; check the booking arrangements before your trip. The Raadhuis is also home to the Dudok Architectuur Centrum, which explores the architect’s life and work. You can therefore discover architecture here both in the building itself and through Dudok’s work.
Discover architecture and history
Landgoed Zonnestraal offers a different perspective: the estate was built in the last century as a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients and is considered a monument to light and air created by Jan Duiker. Daily visits are possible; check for any exceptions before you travel. Guided tours are offered at 12:00 and 14:00 on the last Sunday of each month. Check the dates before your trip.
The landscape, too, preserves traces of human history. The Hoorneboegse Heide is home to millennia-old remains, including burial mounds, urn fields and cart tracks. The 26-kilometre Voetstappenpad runs around Hilversum through woodland and heathland and can be walked in sections. This lets you divide the route into shorter stretches rather than planning to walk the entire distance.
Heathland, marsh and botanical diversity
A route run by Goois Natuurreservaat passes along the Hilversums Wasmeer. From a viewpoint, you can look out over the marsh; special plants found there include rush, cottongrass, white beak-sedge and round-leaved sundew. You can go walking on the Bussummerheide. It also has burial mounds and archaeological remains from the Stone Age, as well as a settlement dating back to the 12th century.
Pinetum Blijdenstein, a botanical garden of international significance with one of the world’s most important conifer collections, is located in Hilversum’s villa district. The garden is open year-round; check the latest visitor information before your visit. The Pinetum’s focus on conifers complements the extensive heathland and marsh landscapes with a collection centred on coniferous trees.
Media and photography
Beeld & Geluid houses one of the world’s largest media archives. The building in Hilversum was designed by Neuteling & Riedijk Architecten. Its colourful glass panels by Jaap Drupsteen depict scenes from Dutch television history. Hilversum also offers an interactive media museum and Hillywood tours, which provide a behind-the-scenes look at television studios.
Fotomuseum Hilversum specialises in photography and explores its boundaries by connecting it with other art forms. It is also home to the Zilveren Camera, the Netherlands’ most important photojournalism competition. The museum regularly hosts talks, guided tours, masterclasses and special activities for children. Its programme ranges from exploring images to events focused on photography.
Getting around on foot and by bike
An 8.5-kilometre city walk passes notable buildings designed by Dudok and takes about three hours. Another walk, around 7 kilometres long, passes through the Boomberg neighbourhood, by the Oude Haven and through the Corversbos. The different route lengths give you a practical guide when choosing a walk. A 36-kilometre cycling tour takes you through the area around Hilversum.
The Gooische Vrouwen cycling experience route passes 18 sculptures of Gooische women, which add an artistic touch to the city streetscape. You can start at Hilversum railway station, where you can rent an OV-fiets. Check availability in advance. Another route passes Hilversum’s main media attractions, from Media Park to the city centre and back. A historical route introduces the city’s varied history, including the stories of farmers, carpet weavers, factory owners and the media.
Culinary experiences are also part of discovering Hilversum: dishes from seven of the world’s cuisines are on offer, and visitors can pour their own Goois beer. Check before your visit whether this offer is available.
Discover more destinations: Hilversum, Loenen, Castricum, Bloemendaal, Medemblik, Den Helder, Enkhuizen, Harenkarspel.
Back to the main travel overview: North Holland.
