GR5: Days 1–7 from Hoek van Holland to Zoersel | Hiking from Holland to Nice
The GR5 journey begins! On 20 July 2026, I set off from Hoek van Holland in the Netherlands, beginning an approximately 2,200 km hike towards Nice on the Mediterranean coast. The first seven days brought long walking days, peaceful forests, sandy paths, changing weather, and the first taste of wild camping. Here are the daily stats, highlights, challenges, and thoughts from the opening week.
Day 1 🥾From Hoek van Holland to Camping and Marina De Meeuw
ℹ️Stats: Weather: sunny 19 degrees
From: Hoek van Holland
Start time: 9.30am from Rotterdam 10.40am from the start
To: Camping and Marina De Meeuw
End time: 6.45pm
Accommodation: campsite - camping ⛺️
Terrain: flat concrete cycle paths, forest trails, fields, towns
Cicerone guidebook stages: stage 1 & 2
🥾Km: 33
🥾Miles: 20.6 miles
🦶Steps: 41,357
Ascent: 167m
Descent: 175m
Total Distance 33/2,200 km 1.5% Done ✅
💰Costs: €5.50 2hr pass on the metro 🚝
€1 ferry ride ⛴️
Camping €20.50
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 7/10
Fatigue: 2/10 - all good
Ease of terrain: 1/10 - so flat
⭐️Highlights: well signposted, warm weather, But not to hot. Reaching 20 miles and getting to the campsite I wanted to reach.
🏔️Challenges: a field of cows 🐄- I did a diversion. I couldn’t face them
💭Thoughts: a little anxious at the start - I wasn’t sure if I found the correct starting point. It matched the GPS - but I was expecting a different marker. not just a pole. Very confusing. I spend 10 mins double checking it was right!!! (It was - apparently the other post got lost during the reconstruction of the area)
Day 2 🥾From Camping and Marina De Meeuw to Camping De Houten Paardjes
ℹ️Stats: Weather: sunny 20 degrees
From: Camping and Marina De Meeuw
Start time: 9.25am
To: Camping De Houten Paardjes
End time: 4pm
Accommodation: campsite ⛺️ camping
Terrain: forests, grassy paths, cycle paths, sandy
Cicerone guidebook stages: stage 3
🥾Km: 25.70
🥾Miles: 16
🦶Steps: 34,350
Ascent: 115m
Descent: 119
Total Distance 58.7/2,200 km 2.6% Done ✅
💰Costs: snickers €1.50
Ice cream caramel Sunday €4.50
Water €3
Camping €15
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 7/10 - solid day
Fatigue: 2/10
Ease of terrain: 2/10
⭐️Highlights: fresh picked blackberries, good weather, ice cream, stopping at 4pm
🏔️Challenges: the sand was hard going at times
💭Thoughts: it’s very relaxing and peaceful out here- the trail is away from the majority of roads and if you are close to a road you’re on a separate path.
Day 3 🥾From Camping De Houten Paardjes to Camping De Grevelingen
ℹ️Stats: Weather: dry but windy 🌬️
From: Camping De Houten Paardjes
Start time: 8.40am
To: Camping De Grevelingen
End time: 6pm
Accommodation: campsite 🏕️
Terrain: beaches, bridges, cycle paths, grassy
Cicerone guidebook stages: stage 5
🥾Km: 33.48
🥾Miles: 21
🦶Steps: 45,375
Ascent: 187m
Descent: 192m
Total Distance 92.18/2,200 km
4.1% Done ✅
💰Costs: €26.50 - camping - on the expensive end!
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 6/10
Fatigue: 2/10
Ease of terrain: 3/10
⭐️Highlights: to be out in nature, moving my body. It’s good to be back walking again
🏔️Challenges: trying to work out accommodation options and distances over the next two or three days. It’s either a 12mile or 25 mile day. I still haven’t quite figured out what I’m gonna do…
💭Thoughts: some of the scenery is getting a little monotonous now. Especially when you spend hours with no real change to the view.
Day 4 🥾From Camping De Grevelingen to the Hive campsite, Nieuw-Vossemeer
ℹ️Stats: Weather: dry and windy, cloudy 21 degrees
From: Camping De Grevelingen
Start time: 11am
To: the Hive campsite, Nieuw-Vossemeer
End time: 3.30pm for lunch 4.40pm @ campsite
Accommodation: camped ⛺️
Terrain: cycle paths, grassy verges
Cicerone guidebook stages: stage 6
🥾Km: 21
🥾Miles: 13
🦶Steps: 26,737
Ascent: 97m
Descent: 92m
Total Distance 125/2,200 km
5.6% Done ✅
💰Costs: €27.40 double beef burger, with onions, fried egg & chips + ice cream dessert 🍨
€12.50 camping - cheapest so far!
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 5/10
Fatigue: 2/10
Ease of terrain: 3/10 flat but hard on your feet
⭐️Highlights: stopped at Wagen Huis for lunch - epic! I think my body needed proper food not just snacky food!
🏔️Challenges: I decided to split the 25 miles over 2 days. It’s still very early into the journey and I know I’ll be able to do bigger miles later on when I’m hiker fit.
💭Thoughts: it is very chilled and relaxed gives me Camino vibes. But a lot less people. I haven’t met any other hikers yet, although apparently there’s 3 other hikers ahead who are also doing the GR5
Day 5 🥾From Nieuw-Vossemeer to Bergen op Zoom
ℹ️Stats: Weather: dry & sunny 25 degrees
From: Nieuw-Vossemeer
Start time: 9.56am
To: Bergen op Zoom
End time: 3.30pm
Accommodation: Hotel Old Dutch 🇳🇱
Terrain: bicycle tracks, concrete, forests
Cicerone guidebook stages: 7
🥾Km: 19.58
🥾Miles: 12.2
🦶Steps: 25,802
Ascent: 73m
Descent: 70m
Total Distance 145/2,200 km
6.6% Done ✅
💰Costs: hotel € 88.87
€6 green smoothie
€16.85 BLT bagel & cream cheese bagel (gf)
€39 food shop
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 7/10
Fatigue: 1/10
Ease of terrain: 2/10
⭐️Highlights: gorgeous forest section, the town was heaving, checking in early, amazing bagels
🏔️Challenges: figuring out where to go next - how far & the accommodation- i might try some wild camping - I’ll see how I get on. There doesn’t seem to be many campsites in trail going forward.
💭Thoughts: so chill & relaxed. No drama, just good old walking in nice weather.
Day 6 🥾From Bergen op Zoom to Kalmthout
ℹ️Stats: Weather: sunny ☀️& hot 26 degrees
From: Bergen op Zoom
Start time: 10.30am
To: Kalmthout
End time: 5pm
Accommodation: wild camped 🏕️ (lack of other options)
Terrain: forest tracks, sandy, bicycle paths
Cicerone guidebook stages: 8
🥾Km: 26
🥾Miles: 16
🦶Steps: 33,200
Ascent: 66m
Descent: 53m
Total Distance 171/2,200 km
7.7% Done ✅
💰Costs: €0 - whoop whoop! 🙌
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 8/10
Fatigue: 1/10 - very well rested (late start & early ish finish)
Ease of terrain: 2/10
⭐️Highlights: crossing the border into Belgium 🇧🇪 🥳stunning walking through Grenspark De Zoom - Kalmthoutse Heide. 2 hr snooze in the sun while waiting to find camping.
🏔️Challenges: starting to get hot - the dry arid sections really put me through my paces - it felt like proper hiking and more of a challenge! I loved it!
💭Thoughts: I think I’ve got the next 2 days planned - youth hostel to youth hostel approx 23/24 mile days. Will be a good challenge! Plus it’s nice to know there will be a bed at the end of each stage.
Day 7 🥾From Kalmthout to Zoersel
ℹ️Stats: Weather: rain!!!🌧️ where did this come from! bring back the sun!
From: Kalmthout
Start time: 7.10am
To: Zoersel
End time: 3.36pm
Accommodation: Youth Hostel - bed
Terrain: roads, sandy tracks, forests
Cicerone guidebook stages: 9 & 10
🥾Km: 37.34
🥾Miles: 23
🦶Steps: 47,260
Ascent: 32m
Descent: 37m
Total Distance 208/2,200 km
9.47% Done ✅
💰Costs: €52 euro (but included 3 course dinner, WiFi, clean sheets, hot shower, breakfast & a packed lunch!)
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 5/10 - rain put a dampener on things
Fatigue: 2/10
Ease of terrain: 1/10
⭐️Highlights: ice cream vending machine at at a farm! Luc & Linda at the youth hostel were amazing hosts. Luke cooked a phenomenal three course dinner. Which was delicious.
🏔️Challenges: being on other people schedules- there were only 3 people staying at the youth hostel and the other people didn’t turn up until later - so having to wait for dinner… when you are getting in hungry. I am patient about most things. But not food in any shape or form. It was worth waiting for though!!
💭Thoughts: food, food, food - hiker hunger is kicking in.
I’ve also got the next two nights sorted staying at a youth hostel tomorrow night and then camping in someone’s garden!
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