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Wellness, Yoga and Nature retreats in the Netherlands - NEW 2027 dates!
Slow down without going far
Leave the alarm off. If you fancy yoga or a few quiet minutes of meditation, there’s a class before the rest of the hotel is up. If you’d rather not, nobody minds: have another hour in bed. Breakfast takes as long as it takes.Afterwards, perhaps a ramble with no destination in mind, or a bike ride that takes you rather further than you meant to go, followed by a long soak in the mineral baths or the spa. Somewhere in the day you’ll finish that book, have a massage and linger over dinner without once checking your watch.
It sounds like a trip that takes serious planning. It doesn’t. All of this is waiting in the Netherlands, from the dunes of Zeeland to the mineral springs of Groningen.
That’s the idea behind Slowlands: seeing the Netherlands at a gentler pace. Less box-ticking, more lingering. No checklist, no itinerary, just days you fill as you please, or leave empty.
The art of doing nothing
Ask anyone about a good spa weekend and they’ll tell you about the bits in between: the book that never got past page ten, the afternoon spent drifting between the sauna and a sofa, the realisation at four o’clock that you haven’t looked at your phone since lunch. You don’t need much for that. A comfortable bed, a proper dinner, warm mineral water to sink into, and woods or sea close enough to walk to in your slippers, or nearly. Yoga, a massage, a long walk: they’re all there if you want them. And if you don’t, that’s perfectly fine.
Yoga in the Flow
Yoga suits this way of travelling. It doesn’t matter how far you get into a pose, and nobody expects your hands to reach the floor. No fiddly postures, nothing to prove. It’s about breathing, moving and letting your shoulders drop. Mornings tend to be more active. Afternoons are slower and softer, with a little meditation and yin yoga. Our team of yoga teachers has been leading the retreats for more than fifteen years. Each has their own style, but all of them pay attention to what you need rather than what the rest of the room can do. There are blocks, straps and bolsters to hand, so you don't need to be bendy to take part. And if you’d rather skip a morning class? Stay in bed a little longer. Nobody will mind.
Various way to slow down
The Netherlands may be small, but a weekend among the dunes is a world away from one in the woods, or one spent floating in warm spring water. The landscape sets the mood, and the mood decides how you unwind. That’s why we sort our hotels into three kinds: wellness in nature, wellness by the sea and wellness from the spring.
Wellbeing Retreats in Nature
Open the door and you’re in the woods. No car, no map, no plan. Just footpaths, a dawn chorus and the smell of pine needles and damp leaves, a world away from home.
Landgoed De Wilmersberg, Twente
Back in the 1920s, the Blijdenstein family, Twente textile people, built themselves a country retreat here called ‘t Nije Huss. The estate sits close to the German border, a few minutes from Oldenzaal and a short drive from the pretty town of Ootmarsum. There’s a log fire in the lounge. You can follow the tree trail past hundreds of veteran specimens, or borrow a bike or e-bike from reception. Dinner is regional and seasonal, with a sommelier on hand and a long wine list, and the Michelin Guide describes the kitchen as modern and vegetable-led. If the sky is clear afterwards, take a last turn outside for the stars.
De Meinweg National Park, near Roermond, is a patchwork of heath, woodland and small pools, and the hotel sits right in the middle of it. Walk out of the front door and you’re on the trails, or you can go by bike or on horseback. Afterwards there’s the Vita Allegra spa, with a generous sauna area and an outdoor sauna. Limburg is known for eating well, and the à la carte restaurant lives up to it, with a menu that follows the seasons and makes the most of local produce.
Wellbeing Retreats by the Sea
Domburg is one of Zeeland’s most popular seaside towns, known for its wide sandy beaches, dunes, boutique shops and cosy cafés and restaurants. Officially recognised as a therapeutic seaside resort, it’s an ideal place for a wellness break. The hotel is just a short walk from both the beach and the town centre. Enjoy a morning yoga session on the beach when the weather allows, explore the dunes on foot or by bike, or spend some time browsing the local shops. Back at the hotel, the intimate spa is the perfect place to unwind with a warm bath or a massage.
Wellness from the Spring
Only a handful of places in the Netherlands can call themselves official spa towns, and Bad Nieuweschans is one of them. Its warm water comes from a spring of its own, and it’s so rich in salts that you float almost without trying.
Thermen Bad Nieuweschans, Groningen
In the north of the Netherlands lies Bad Nieuweschans, home to a natural spring 600 metres underground. Its mineral-rich water contains high levels of salt, magnesium, iodine and bromide and is heated to 36°C. The wellness resort features extensive gardens with plenty of quiet spots to relax, a large thermal spa complex and a beautiful yoga studio. Here in the north, open landscapes stretch towards the horizon and life moves at a slower pace. After the forests and the sea, this is where the water does the work.
Discover your own pace
Some people unwind on a long walk by the sea. Others need a yoga class, a massage or an afternoon in the sauna. There are cyclists, there are people who live for a long lunch, and there are those who would happily clear the diary for a whole day. It all works here. Pick a place that feels right and stay a little longer than you planned. There’s more room for quiet in the Netherlands than you might think.
Discover our Slowlands Collection in the Netherlands
About Marleen
This blog is written by Marleen, the founder of PureandCure.com in 2005. She travels around the world in search of the best Health & Wellbeing Hotels, Spas and Retreats and shares her know-how, experiences and observations through her blogs.
