About Nature Travel Lab
About us
Not a list of thousands of hotels. Just the places that are worth it, selected by people who know them.
Why Nature Travel Lab exists.
Nature Travel Lab is the independent guide to sustainable nature travel, small-scale accommodations and slow travel in Europe. We help you find special places where nature, tranquility, comfort and local involvement come together. From eco lodges and agritourisms to hiking trails, train tours and hidden nature spots and local travel ideas in Europe. Carefully selected, personally described and where possible bookable directly with the owner or a local specialist.
We believe that travel is not about seeing as much as possible, but about looking better. That’s why we select accommodations and travel experiences with attention to nature, local culture, sustainability and the people behind the place. Discover special places, local travel ideas and conscious travel tips.
What you’ll find with us
Nature Travel Lab is not a booking site. It is a platform where inspiration, selection and direct connection with local providers come together.
- carefully selected sustainable overnight stays in nature
- inspiration for hiking trails, biking routes, road trips and train journeys
- Lesser-known nature spots in Europe
- tips for traveling more consciously, peacefully and locally
- accommodations and tour operators where you book directly or locally
- Honest stories from travelers, makers and local experts
Nature stays in the countryside
From ecolodge to farm, from glamping to boutique hotel. Always small-scale, always surrounded by nature. Selected on character, not stars.
Hiking and biking trips
Self-guided itineraries created by local specialists. In Italy, Portugal, Norway, Slovenia, and more. Travel at your own pace, with the expertise of a local expert.
Slow travel destination guides
In-depth articles on lesser-known regions of Europe. With tips on road trips, train travel and nature reserves. Written from personal experience and local expertise.
Book yourself or have it taken care of locally
Some travelers like to arrange everything themselves. Others prefer to travel with help from someone who knows the area well. At Nature Travel Lab, you can do both.
As much as possible, we refer you directly to accommodations, local owners or small-scale travel specialists. That means personal contact, fairer prices and more value for the people who make the destination what it is.
Whether you are looking for a walking vacation, a special eco-lodge or a complete itinerary: our starting point remains the same. Travel as locally as possible, with attention to nature and culture.
From experience and local expertise
Many of our stories originate on the road: during hikes, train trips, conversations with owners, visits to special accommodations or journeys through lesser-known regions. As much as possible, we write from our own experience and supplement that knowledge with tips from local experts, entrepreneurs and travelers who know an area inside out.
That combination makes Nature Travel Lab personal and practical. We not only want to inspire you, but also help you choose: does this place suit you, can you get there without an airplane, what makes the stay sustainable and what can you experience in nature?
Here’s what was written about us in the media.
Are you interested in working together?
Are you interested in partnering for your destination, organization or sustainable accommodation? Feel free to contact us without obligation.
“A trip becomes unforgettable only when you are inspired, you travel sustainably and you discover the uniqueness of an area and its people.”
About Madelon Seignette
Nature Travel Lab was founded by Madelon Seignette. After more than 30 years in the travel industry, she felt increasingly strongly that travel could be different: more conscious, more local and with more attention to nature.
“I have always believed that traveling is not about seeing as much as possible, but about looking better. At the landscape, the people, the food, the silence and the places you stay. With Nature Travel Lab, I want to help travelers find those places: small-scale, characterful and respectful of the environment.
I began my career in the travel industry when the Internet was not yet a travel guide. Thirty years later, I’ve seen the business from all sides: as a product manager, as a CMO, as a traveler myself standing in the mud on an unpaved trail in the mountains.
Italy was my first great love: the language, the regions unknown to tourists, the agriturismos that don’t have their own websites but do serve the best local cuisine. My area of expertise now covers most of Europe: from the fjord regions of Norway to the volcanic islands of the Azores, from the Slovenian Karst to the Catalan Pyrenees.
Nature Travel Lab was not built to be big. It’s built to be good. Every accommodation I add I have reviewed myself, or someone in my network I trust.
I also photograph. That means I look before I write. At the light on a mountain at seven in the morning, at the contrast between a neglected industrial village and the mountain landscape behind it. That look is in the stories on this platform.” Read my blogs and articles here.
Ambassadors Nature Travel Lab
Mieke Tacken
Hi, I’m Mieke, I’m an interior designer, photographer and an avid lover of hiking in nature. From the breathtaking peaks of the Alps to the serene forests close to home, I have lost my heart to the simplicity and beauty of hiking vacations. While I have a soft spot for the convenience and connection to nature that camping offers, I also appreciate the unique experience of staying in a hotel that tells a story about local history or culture. I share my stories and tips here, where possible with a light footprint and always a heart full of wonder.
Rosa de Rijk
Hello, I am Rosa, a writer with a great lust for being outdoors and Sustainable travel. My life revolves around collecting and sharing stories, in which nature plays an important role. Walking and traveling by train, I cross Europe in search of the inspiration and peace that slow travel brings. In conversation with locals I connect with the places I visit and find the rare places where you hear nothing but birds singing and trees rustling. On Nature Travel Lab I share my experiences and tips, with a focus on the environment and the world around us.
Anita van Dalen
Hi, I’m Anita. I think trekking is one of the most beautiful things you can do in life. Both walking and cycling, with a tent or in small guesthouses and sometimes for a few months and other times for two days. It always feels like an adventure whatever the day brings. I enjoy being outside a lot and meeting people along the way. I have always read many books of travel stories and let my mind be carried away with other people’s adventures. In this way, with my stories myself, I hope to inspire other people to just get out and about. With a little preparation and some good tips and confident that the rest will sort itself out along the way. Have a good trip!
Debby Bos-Smits
Hi, I’m Debby! My background is in the travel industry, and I’m committed to corporate social responsibility. Traveling has always been in my blood, so I seize every opportunity to discover beautiful new places. Nature and sustainability are almost always central to my travels, whether close to home or a bit further away. In the summer of 2023, my family and I took an Interrail trip through Europe—it was a fantastic adventure, highlighted by the Bernina Express in Switzerland. I highly recommend it! For us, this way of traveling—”slow travel”—was ideal and, above all, very relaxing.
Joyce Bangma-Smits
Hai, my name is Joyce! I’m a content specialist and run a marketing and events company with my sister Debby. Then we do a lot of local, taking sustainability and corporate social responsibility into account as much as possible. I like to look for small-scale vacation parks or campsites where we are in the middle of nature. And we like to go on hiking vacations. My trip is not complete without nature that is treated with respect. I hope to make a nice contribution to inspire other travelers to travel green!
Nathalie van Koot
Bonjour, my name is Nathalie. France is my great passion. I take just about every opportunity to travel to France (preferably by train) to highlight undiscovered gems. Whether cycling, hiking or climbing. I prefer to combine nature and culture so France is the place to be! In addition to writing and vlogging, I organize (group) trips in cooperation with magazines and travel agencies. For Nature Travel Lab, I also like to take occasional trips into my own country, the United Kingdom and whatever else comes my way. Will you join me?
Shirley Nieuwland
Hi, my name is Shirley! I love hiking in the mountains and traveling by train. I prefer to combine the two when I go on vacation. My background as a sustainable tourism researcher has made me aware of the negative impact travel can have. I like to inspire others by showing how things can be done differently: traveling by train or bus, small-scale accommodations and sustainable activities Since 2023 I have been living in the north of Spain, where I have lost my heart to the region of Asturias. There are a huge number of unknown and beautiful places in Spain that I love to write about, to show what this country has to offer.
Sara Goudsblom
Hey I’m Sara, in 2023 I decided to start my dream project to give alternative sustainable lifestyles a platform . A way of life that treats nature, animals and people in a conscious way . Being aware of is how special it is to have a plate of food, shelter and cozy people around you. My goal is to inspire people what all the possibilities are regarding sustainable living. I travel around Europe and visit communities, off-grid locations and households where sustainability plays a role. At each location I work as a volunteer. So I can really empathize with their way of life and paint an authentic picture.
Mariëlle van Bussel
Hi, I’m Mariëlle, and have been able to turn my passions – writing and travel – into my work. I love adventure and nature. I like to camp with my camper van somewhere in a forest, take long walks in nature, walk caminos in Spain or train with my son through the Balkans. There is so much beauty to do, see and discover in nature, and so many beautiful people to meet, that I would like to share those experiences on Nature Travel Lab.
Merel Kerseboom
Hi, my name is Merel.
I am a photographer with passion for portrait, architecture, art and travel photography. I prefer to be on vacation all year to discover the most beautiful places in the world! I find it important and fun to capture places as they really are, so you can feel the atmosphere through the image. Every country or city has its own character. The different people, languages and their cultures interest me a lot. I like to share my travel experiences and give tips for great places.
Anniek Janssen & Philippe Quaedvlieg
As a couple, we have been traveling the world together for more than 20 years. Preferably unspoiled nature, far away from the crowd, walking and often with our beloved camera within reach. Both close to home in the hills of South Limburg and in the most remote places on earth we try to capture the uniqueness of special places and people. Since 2023 we are also connected professionally through our own photo enterprise: Studio 2Shoot.
Alissia and Marcel
Hi! We are Alissia and Marcel, and since we cannot sit still we are always going out to discover new things.
With a love of being on the road, a keen eye for detail, and a portion of curiosity, we quite often find unusual places to stay, crazy buildings or beautiful areas. Whether we go hiking locally, go on a bike-packing trip or a road trip, somehow we always come back with something special we discovered. And which we then enjoy sharing with others.
Our sustainability criteria for overnight stays
These sustainability icons make it easy to see in which areas an accommodation provider is actively implementing its sustainability policy. Read more about the sustainability criteria here.
Zero footprint
Architecture
sustainable/local construction
Food
organic/local cuisine
Social
family/local runned/social projects
Wellbeing
Sauna/yoga/wellness/treatments
Surroundings
Environment/recycling
Partner of Biodiversity Restoration Netherlands
Nature Travel Lab is proud to be partner of Biodiversity Restoration Netherlands. With this initiative, our travel platform directly supports nature restoration and biodiversity conservation projects within the Netherlands. When you book through us, you contribute directly to this restoration.
Website of the year 2026 certification
We are proud that Nature Travel Lab may carry the certification Website of the Year 2026 again this year.A hallmark that recognizes professionalism, reliability and good design. With this we compete for the official title for Website of the Year 2026.
Member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association
Recently, Nature Travel Lab became a member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association. A global network of nature travel professionals with the aim of promoting more sustainable travel, encouraging collaborations and sharing mutual knowledge.
