One of Europe’s longest walking paths has 500-km wheelchair friendly route

As of today, the Netherlands’ longest walking trail also has a wheelchair friendly path. The Pieterpad is now the longest wheelchair-friendly walking trail in Europe.

The Pieterpad is now accessible for people with off-road wheelchairs, mobility scooters, walkers, and strollers. Like the original trail, the adapted route is over 500 kilometers long.

The special route was designed by Moving Beyond Limits, a foundation dedicated to making outdoor activities possible for people with physical disabilities. The wheelchair friendly path uses 84 percent of the original Pieterpad, plus 82 kilometers of detours around obstacles like stairs, steep slopes, and worn-out paths.

“While many hikers naturally head for a forest path, the adventure for wheelchair users often ends at the first sandy path,” Moving Beyond Limits director Julie Taal said. That is no longer the case for the Pieterpad.

Stichting Pieterpad is delighted that the walking trail is now also accessible to people with mobility problems. “Until recently, I would have said that it is impossible to complete the Pieterpad in a wheelchair,” director Maarten Groothuis said. He can’t wait to welcome this new group to the trail.