Dark-sky places in the Netherlands
Of 21 dark-sky places and national parks in the Netherlands, Lauwersmeer National Park (of those darker than half of Europe’s land) has the most clear, moonless hours of full darkness: 162 a year (ERA5, 2006–2025). The darkest sky is at Boschplaat, darker than 81% of Europe’s land (NASA VIIRS 2025).
| Place | Best month | Clear moonless dark hours a year | Darker than… |
|---|---|---|---|
| De Groote Peel National Park national park | March | 235 | 8% |
| Meinweg National Park national park | March | 235 | 11% |
| De Maasduinen National Park national park | March | 223 | 12% |
| Van Gogh National Park national park | March | 218 | 8% |
| Oosterschelde National Park national park | March | 207 | 26% |
| Hoge Veluwe National Park national park | March | 205 | 18% |
| Veluwezoom National Park national park | March | 205 | 16% |
| Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park national park | March | 201 | 8% |
| Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park national park | March | 196 | 24% |
| De Biesbosch National Park national park | March | 195 | 7% |
| Drentsche Aa National Park national park | March | 192 | 47% |
| Dwingelderveld National Park national park | March | 185 | 42% |
| Weerribben-Wieden National Park national park | March | 182 | 18% |
| Nieuw Land National Park national park | March | 180 | 18% |
| Drents-Friese Wold National Park national park | March | 179 | 48% |
| Zuid-Kennemerland National Park national park | March | 174 | 6% |
| De Alde Feanen National Park national park | March | 171 | 39% |
| Lauwersmeer National Park International Dark Sky Park · national park | March | 162 | 63% |
| Dunes of Texel National Park national park | March | 162 | 66% |
| Schiermonnikoog National Park national park | March | 161 | 78% |
| Boschplaat International Dark Sky Park | March | 153 | 81% |
Climate, not a forecast: these are shares of past nights (ERA5 reanalysis, 2006–2025), not a prediction for a particular night. Check a forecast before you go.