27 December 2024
Every year in winter we are closed for a while, the winter closure we call it. But we are anything but idle then! Especially in the forests, we work very hard. The construction team is busy updating, renewing and building (new) climbing routes.

Why innovations of climbing route in the Klimbos?
We don't do that to keep our colleagues working, of course. But to keep the experience in the climbing forest as cool as possible. And besides, this is the ideal time to carry out maintenance on the current routes. That way, from the new season onwards, the climbing experience will be as good as possible!
How does this process work?
The preparation: from idea to design
In fact, innovations are always being considered. The site manager and maintenance staff make an analysis of an existing route or a sketch of a new route, taking into account carefully selected trees, suitable heights and unique climbing components. This takes into account:
- Tree health: All trees inspected and suitable.
- Originality: Inspiration is drawn from other climbing forests, but new elements are also devised, sometimes even in collaboration with pupils from various schools. They often come up with creative ideas.
The designs are reviewed internally and externally to ensure quality and safety. All the necessary platforms and elements are then built by hand in Klimbos Nederland's workshop in Apeldoorn.
Construction: a huge job in winter
When creating new routes, pruning is started, then the trees are marked with arrowheads (a reference point for levelling) and construction is started. As you can imagine, especially for newly built routes, there is no way to enter the trees via a fuse cable yet. Our builders therefore climb into the trees via hoisting belts, physically very heavy! By means of pulleys, platforms and elements are hoisted upwards to be subsequently assembled.

Post-check: always a double check
When, for a complete route, the platforms and elements are in and between the trees and the fuse cable is also in place, the route is finished. But of course a double check is done in the post-check. All parts of the route are carefully checked and adjusted if necessary. This is how we ensure that new routes meet our safety standard.
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