Panorama of the Berger forest by Martin van Lochem

The Bergerbosch is certainly the biggest forest in Kennemerland and in character cannot be compared to any other forest in the area", said Frederik van Eeden in 1882. The size is not so impressive anymore, but the Bergerbos is still special. The soil consists of old dunes that are partly covered by young dunes on the west side. Near restaurant Duinvermaak the sand threatened to overrun the Huis van Bergen estate as well. Therefore, the dune was fixed and the wind-blown sand could form steep slopes here. In the forest, the old estate character is still very recognizable. In the original design, made for Jonkheer Studler van Surck, the long parallel lanes formed visual axes. Spruce avenue and Jan Willemslaan still lead the way to the Oude Hof. Between these avenues lies the old forest. You will find whimsical oaks with an undergrowth of mosses or lush holly, another typical companion of old woods. The oaks were once planted and exploited as oak coppice: the bark was knocked off and sold as raw material for the tannery. On the acidic, nutrient-poor old dunes and full in the westerly wind, the oaks remained slender with a very rich overgrowth of mosses on the branches and trunks. In the northern part the forest could grow much higher, thanks to the shelter of the high dune. There you now find a 'bosch' of oaks and beeches up to 20 metres high.