Netherlands: Naarderbos is playable again, but only nine main-course holes are open

Golfpark Naarderbos in the Netherlands is once again welcoming players, but its recovery remains a work in progress. On 21 October 2026, GOLF.NL published a new on-course visit to the site near Naarden, offering an update several weeks after its actual 12 September reopening. October's development is the assessment of the restored course, not a second opening ceremony.

Which holes can golfers play?

Operator Hollandsche Golfclub / Hollandsche Golfbaan Exploitatiemaatschappij (HGE) confirms that the red loop, holes 10–18 of the main course, the separate nine-hole par-3 shortgolf course, and the driving range are operating. The red nine measures 2,765 metres, plays to par 35, and is being restored in stages. The yellow loop, holes 1–9, remains closed, so describing Naarderbos as a fully operational 18-hole course would be misleading.

An important detail on the operator's course page: the red nine does not yet hold qualifying status. Players should not assume rounds are currently eligible for official handicap purposes. The club lists a temporary pioneer green fee of €30 for nine holes, or €24 at the stated reduced rate; golfers aged 17 and under are listed at €10. These are October 2026 website figures rather than a promise about future pricing.

Why the return took so long

Naarderbos was designed by Dutch golf architect Gerard Jol and opened in 2003 as a complex with an 18-hole main course and a nine-hole short course. Golf stopped being played there from 2017, amid prolonged operational disputes and financial trouble; formal closure followed. Vegetation eventually reclaimed the site, with even some putting greens becoming overgrown.

HGE's restoration has included tees, greens, fairways, bunkers and irrigation infrastructure. The dry summer of 2026 slowed turf recovery and forced a phased reopening. GOLF.NL's latest site visit illustrates the distinction between being able to book a round now and having a course that has already reached its intended long-term playing condition.

The next milestone is projected, not guaranteed

In a project page updated on 22 October 2026, Gooise Meren municipality names April 2027 as an expected milestone for a complete 18-hole course and permanent clubhouse arrangements. The operator frames the outlook more cautiously: the yellow nine is expected in spring 2027, and work on the permanent clubhouse is tied to completion of the course restoration. These are plans subject to change, not confirmed opening dates.

The local-government dimension matters. Gooise Meren repurchased leasehold rights in 2024 and signed a contract with the new operator in March 2026 as part of a broader effort to revive recreation near the Gooimeer lake. The story is about recovering an existing sports facility, not building a new golf course.

Before visiting

The club lists IJsselmeerweg 110, Naarden, parking area P3. Check the current open loop, course status, local rules, tee-time availability and handicap eligibility before travelling. A full 18-hole round is not yet available.

Sources: GOLF.NL on-course visit, 21 October; operator's reopening statement; operator's red-nine course and prices; Gooise Meren municipal update, 22 October.

Image note: archival view of Naarderbos from 2012; it does not document the post-renovation playing conditions in 2026.