Where will you photograph the heather?

Sunday 23 August 2026, 13:31 by Nando Harmsen | 895 views | 9 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Summer is coming to an end and autumn is just around the corner. The heather is in bloom again. Where will you photograph the heather? Will you visit the famous spots? Or will you look for other places?

Every year there is a heather craze. Half of photography-loving Netherlands travels to the Posbank to photograph the vast hills covered in purple heather. Preferably at sunrise.

The well-known Posbank - f/4.5, 1/500s, 100 ISO @ 175mm

Of course, it is beautiful. It is impressive to see those purple hills. I have grown a little tired of those photos. They look the same every year. That should not stop you from going to photograph them.

There is more heather to be found in the Netherlands. Not just at the Posbank. Perhaps even much closer to home. You can take fantastic photos there too. It is also something a bit different for a change.

Try looking for local heathlands and let yourself be surprised by the possibilities. Photograph the heather in the mist, with beautiful trees in the background. If it is closer to home, you also have more opportunity to go out 'for a bit'.

Strabrecht heathland - f/11, 1/6s, 100 ISO @ 42mm

Or capture the heather in a different way. With more detail, perhaps in the light of warm sunshine. Look at the heather with different eyes, instead of taking the same photo as last year.

Ling heather, the location does not matter for this type of photo - f/5.6, 1/8s, 100 ISO @ 170mm

Of course, you can decide entirely for yourself. Do you like taking the photo of the Posbank again? Then go for it. Enjoy it, because that is what it is all about too.

Where will you photograph the heather this year? A local spot, close to home? Or at one of the well-known tourist attractions? Let us know in a comment below this post.

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About the author

Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.

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9 comments

ronab wrote on Tuesday 25 August 2026 at 11:42 | reply
I’ll also stay nice and close by: the Brunssummerheide. I’ll mostly keep it small there too, but a few landscape photos won’t be missing
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Tuesday 1 September 2026 at 09:51 | reply
That is also a beautiful area
Translated from Dutch.

Donald Willemsen wrote on Tuesday 25 August 2026 at 15:57 | reply
Maybe a nice tip: plant some heather plants in your own garden and photograph the details of the plants.
At garden centres you can also find other varieties in colour. Advantage: you don't have to go far, you won't be pushed aside by other (rude) photographers😉, you can work in peace, possibly with flashes and/or reflectors.
Translated from Dutch.

John Boutsen wrote on Tuesday 25 August 2026 at 17:25 | reply
stay nearby : Mechelse Heide (Hoge Kempen National Park), Tenhaagdoornheide (Houthalen) and Opglabekerzavel in Genk (in my backyard)
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Tuesday 1 September 2026 at 09:53 | reply
Interesting to go and have a look sometime. Thanks for sharing.
Translated from Dutch.

Gert van Eck wrote on Tuesday 25 August 2026 at 21:11 | reply
Well, I just happen to live near the Posbank. But of course you can also choose a different spot for once. Not in the direction of the sunrise, as usually happens, but simply towards the mist in the little valleys and the view towards the Nijmegen moraine ridge, as in this photo https://gertvaneck-natuurfotografie.nl/landschappen/posbank-7-9-2024
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Tuesday 1 September 2026 at 09:54 | reply
Well, if you live there, it would be crazy not to go there.
And honestly, I am a little jealous (in a positive way 😉)
Translated from Dutch.

Nel Walet wrote on Friday 28 August 2026 at 20:49 | reply
Last year I photographed the heather at the Stichtse Rotonde.
Of course, that isn't a beautiful background, with all that concrete. But I brought my macro lens and took some pretty nice detailed photos there. Big advantage: there was no one else there to take photos of the heather 😉
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Tuesday 1 September 2026 at 09:55 | reply
The whole kingdom to yourself. Wonderful.
Macro has the advantage that you don't need that much space
Translated from Dutch.

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