Grounded in Nature
Forest bathing (shinrin yoku) in South Holland
What is forest bathing?
Forest bathing is spending time in nature, and it need not be a forest, and taking time to slow down, quieten down, and connect with nature. This is done by focussing on the sensory experience in the here and now. Its all about stopping to smell the roses - sometimes quite literally. Experiencing a natural space in this way helps to create spaciousness – mentally and emotionally. Forest bathing could perhaps also be described as a kind of meditation in and with nature.And nope, it has nothing to do with outdoor swimming.Shinrin yoku, known in English as forest bathing, began as a formal practice in the 1980s in Japan, as a means to reduce stress and improve health. Since this time there has been a growing body of evidence from a variety of disciplines, such as medicine and psychology, to indicate that forest bathing has a positive effect on mental and physical health, such as reducing stress hormones and lowering blood pressure.But, in addition to formal evidence, many of us intuitively have a sense of how nurturing it can be to spend time in nature.
Upcoming open sessions
Langevelderslag, Amsterdamse Waterleiding Duinen (South Holland)
Sunday 7 December 2025
10:00-13:00
€40*
Langevelderslag, Amsterdamse Waterleiding Duinen
(South Holland)
Sunday 4 January 2026
10:00-13:00
€40*
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Locations
Wild dune landscape in the far south of the Amsterdamse Waterleiding Duinen (AWD). Wind and sand dominate the landscape. Starting from Langevelderslag, near to Noordwijkerhout, South Holland.Accessibility: Uneven, sandy terrain. (A three-hour session requires, in total, walking approximately 20 to 30 minutes. If you have any concerns about your ability to navigate this terrain please be in contact.)Transport: This entrance to the nature reserve is challenging to reach by public transport.
Metered parking available.Meeting place: Grassy patch near the entrance to the parking lot.
A forested estate, near the outskirts of Leiden, South Holland.Accessibility: Flat terrain with mostly hardened-earth paths.Transport: Easily reachable by bus, bicycle or car. Free parking.Meeting place: Parking lot
About the guide
My name is Renée. I founded Grounded in Nature in 2025, and offer forest bathing primarily to English-speakers in the Netherlands.I come from South Africa and have been living in the Netherlands since 2020. Since I started forest bathing and training to become a guide, I have felt significantly more settled in the Netherlands, and more connected to the land and life here.Being in nature is crucial for me as I find it helps to ground me when life feels overwhelming. And as a parent of a young child I can confirm that forest bathing provides effective relief from the sensory overload that parenting often involves.I completed my training to be a forest bathing guide with the masterful Eefje Ludwig of The Forest Bathing Circle, based in the Netherlands.
private sessions
Work teams, couples, friends, or individuals can make contact to arrange private forest bathing sessions.The guide, Renée, works primarily in English but bilingual or Dutch-only sessions are also available by arrangement. She works in the forest at Huys te Warmont near Leiden, and at Amsterdamse Waterleiding Duinen nature reserve. However, it is possible to negotiate to have a private session at another location.
contact
[email protected]
