Zoomland, a forest situated next to the town of Bergen op Zoom in the Netherlands, is a place I love to visit on weekdays, as early as possible. The crowds of weekend visitors have gone, and it’s lovely to walk amongst the wide avenues of beech trees, especially in spring when the air is crisp. On days like this, mist often rolls in, and with a bit of luck, the sun’s rays break through the fresh, young canopy. On such a day, the forest transforms into a magical place.
With a little imagination, you can almost picture the elves from Tolkien’s books appearing before your eyes. It has a particularly tranquil atmosphere; in the distance, you can hear birdsong, fading away into the silence.
