Axe Care and Campfire Cooking: Two-Day Bushcraft at Leersums Veld

Bijl gebruik en onderhoud brings practical bushcraft to Leersums Veld, a patch of heath and pine on the Utrechtse Heuvelrug near Leersum, Utrecht, Netherlands. Over two days (10:00 the first day to 16:00 the second) the course teaches axe use and maintenance, safe woodcraft, knife work, and how to prepare meals over an open campfire in a self-catering format. The meeting point is Leersums Veld; participants must be at least 16 years old (14 with a parent) and are asked to bring their own cookware and basic kit.

The site itself is immediate and elemental: open heath, scattered Scots pine, and stretches of drifting sand shaped by postglacial winds and human land use. Those geological sand drifts and the dry, acidic soils define what grows here—heather, sand-adapted grasses, and scattered oak—while the sky often fills with passing songbirds and winter thrushes. That combination of exposed ground and sheltering trees makes Leersums Veld ideal for firecraft training because fuel, wind breaks, and cleared areas for controlled flames are nearby.

Expect a curriculum that favors hands-on repetition over theory. You will learn how to safely handle and sharpen an axe and basic splitting techniques, maintain edge geometry, select suitable tinder and kindling from common local species, and manage a communal cooking fire. Food is self-catered: bring your own pan or pot if possible; instructors provide a single shared pan for those who need it, emphasizing cooperative cleanup and low-impact practices.

Why book this? Bijl gebruik en onderhoud is focused and plainspoken—skills you can take home and use immediately. The course plugs directly into the region’s outdoor culture: Utrechtse Heuvelrug became protected as a national park in 2003, and its long history of heathland management and forestry is the living classroom here. Small group dynamics and the shared campfire create an efficient way to gain competence while practicing Leave No Trace principles.

Practical details: bring sturdy boots, warm layers for changing weather, and your cookware. If you have a personal axe or knife bring it; instructors will advise if it needs care. The program is self-catering and communal by design—expect shared responsibilities for fire and food. Whether you want useful fieldcraft to improve weekend camping or deeper confidence maintaining tools, this two-day course at Leersums Veld reduces the gap between reading and doing.

Sessions balance safety drills with real tasks: supervised cutting circles, axe inspections, and fire-lighting under differing wind conditions. The instructors emphasize tool respect, proper stances, and debris clearance to protect the heath. Because the course is self-catering, it’s also a good primer for small-group expeditions and family trips where food planning is essential. Bring a basic first-aid kit and come prepared to learn with modest exertion and hands-on focus. Enjoy.