The Moving Beyond Limits foundation has officially opened a wheelchair-accessible version of the famous Pieterpad walking trail on the Sallandse Heuvelrug.
The route is now passable for mobility scooters, walkers, and strollers.
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Spanning over 500 kilometers from Pieterburen to Sint-Pietersberg, the adjusted path includes 82 kilometers of newly developed diversions.
These bypass stairs, steep slopes, and worn-out tracks.
Longest Accessible Walking Route in Europe
This modification establishes the Pieterpad as the longest accessible walking route in Europe. It preserves 84 percent of the original trail.
Julie Taal, initiator of the Moving Beyond Limits foundation, noted that long-distance walks have become achievable for well-equipped wheelchair users.
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Modern aids allow access to forest paths, heathlands, and hilly terrain.
Maarten Goorhuis, director of the Pieterpad Foundation, described the construction of the new wheelchair-friendly path as fantastic. He had previously considered the Pieterpad impossible for wheelchair users.
The traditional 26-stage route was originally conceived and mapped between 1978 and 1983 by Toos Goorhuis-Tjalsma and Bertje Jens.
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It traverses diverse Dutch landscapes including forests, rivers, and villages.
