The Best Locations for Astrophotography

The most beautiful locations for photographing the night sky

Do you want to take astrophotos? We’re happy to tell you about the best locations for astrophotography.

There’s plenty to see at night: a clear Milky Way, a full moon or simply a beautiful starry sky. Do you want to head out to capture the most stunning astrophotos, but you’re not sure where to go? We’re here to help! We’ve selected eight beautiful locations for you — seven in the Netherlands, one in Belgium and one in Germany — where you can take the most stunning astrophotos.

Nationaal Park Lauwersmeer

To capture the best photos of the stars, you naturally need a dark location. So what’s better than one of the darkest places in the country? In 2016, Nationaal Park Lauwersmeer was designated as one of the two Dark Sky Parks in the Netherlands. The park, located on the border of Friesland and Groningen, offers many viewpoints where you can easily set up your camera to capture the most beautiful photos of the night sky.

Boschplaat

The Boschplaat is the other Dark Sky Park in the Netherlands. It is a European protected nature reserve on the island of Terschelling — in fact, it’s the largest nature reserve in the Netherlands. Because there is so little light, you can see the night sky incredibly well. In summer, you can even spot the Milky Way! It’s not only beautiful at night but during the day as well, when you can walk across the lovely sandy beaches and enjoy the wind and tranquillity.

Loonse en Drunense Duinen

The Loonse en Drunense Duinen are located in Brabant. This area is sometimes called the Brabant Sahara because of its sand plains, forest and heath. The wind can blow freely here, creating ever-changing landscapes. It has been a protected area for over 100 years, with very little light pollution — perfect for photographing the night sky!

Herinneringscentrum Kamp Westerbork

During the Second World War, Kamp Westerbork was a transit camp from which thousands of Jews were deported. Today, the camp is a memorial centre. You can visit it during the day, and the grounds are also freely accessible at night. Nowadays, several radio telescopes stand on the site, providing a beautiful foreground for your photos. You can follow the Melkwegpad to see all the radio telescopes and photograph the stunning night sky.

Palendorp

Palendorp in Petten aan Zee is an artwork and a monument. The 160 poles, ranging from 6 to 12 metres high, form the outline of a church and ten houses as a reminder of the flooding that took place several hundred years ago. Because it lies right by the sea, there is very little light pollution, allowing you to take incredible photos of the night sky with the poles in the foreground. An ideal location for photographing the cosmos!

Nationaal Park De Hoge Veluwe

In the east of the country, you’ll find Nationaal Park De Hoge Veluwe. This area is known for its nature, landscape, wildlife, culture and history — and you can also take incredible photos of the night sky here. The national park has large stretches of open land with very little light. This makes it the perfect location for astrophotography! Be sure to also visit Radio Kootwijk. You can place this building in the foreground of your photo to have a recognisable subject in your astrophotography.

Baraque Michel (Belgium)

You don’t have to stay in the Netherlands to find beautiful landscapes for astrophotography! In Belgium, you can visit Baraque Michel, a mountain of no less than 674 metres in the High Fens. It is one of the highest points in Belgium. Thanks to its elevation and quiet surroundings, there is very little light in the evenings — the perfect location for capturing astrophotos.

UNESCO-biosfeerreservaat Rhön (Germany)

Germany also has many places where you can photograph the night sky, such as the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Rhön. This reserve is also known as the “land of endless vistas”. The mountains reach heights of up to 950 metres — ideal for photographing the cosmos! Because outdoor lighting is used with great care, the reserve remains dark.