Nederland - Dwingelderveld

Nationaal Park Dwingelderveld is one of the about twenty national parks in the Netherlands and is the largest European wet heathland area. The national park - 3.700 hectares - has more than sixty fens - some of them date from the last Ice Age - and peat swamps featuring a rich and unique flora and fauna. Dwingelderveld is considered being one of the most beautiful national parks in the Netherlands.

This time we made a walk through the northern part of the Dwingelderveld. Initially through a forest that has been planted since 1925 and later along heathland and vast open swampy landscapes. What was noticeable was the very muddy state of the paths. After about four kilometers we reached the boardwalk, for which this route (marked with white arrows) is famous. This is a narrow - only three shelves wide – path, really necessary as you are walking above the water here. Although only a few hundred meters long, it was fascinating to do.

Dwingelderveld is managed by the Dutch forestry Commission (Staatsbosbeheer) and the private Dutch society for nature conservation Natuurmonumenten. Since 1991 it is a national park and in 2013 the park was added to the List of Nature 2000, as part of the European Network of most valuable nature reserves of Europe.

See for more pictures of Dwingelderveld: www.ipernity.com/doc/294067/46540292 and www.ipernity.com/doc/294067/46551468 .