Flevoland is home to nature reserves that are unique not only in the Netherlands, but in all of (Western) Europe. For instance, we not only have the largest man-made nature park in the world, but also one of the largest deciduous forests in Europe. And although all nature in Flevoland has been thought out on the drawing board, it is still very diverse. Nowhere in the Netherlands can you visit as many different nature reserves in one day as in Flevoland. So put on your daring shoes and head out.
National Park Nieuw Land is the largest man-made nature park in the world. The park consists of the nature reserves Oostvaardersplassen, Lepelaarplassen, Marker Wadden and the Markermeer. The 29,000-hectare area would never have existed without the reclamation of Flevoland. It is a true bird paradise with the bald eagle as its icon. In the marshes, you encounter herds of heck cattle and konik horses.
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“ Man gave the initial impetus, but nature itself created the unique landscape. ”
Do you already know Marker Wadden? The youngest piece of the Netherlands is part of National Park Nieuw Land and is located in the middle of the Markermeer. It is a unique project that contributes to the nature restoration of the Markermeer. You will find a natural harbour, hiking trails, bird-watching huts and a beach. It is a wonderful place to get a breath of fresh air, go for walks and bird-watching. The Marker Wadden can be reached by ferry from Bataviahaven-Lelystad or by your own boat.
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Have you ever seen a moose, bison or moufflon up close? At Nature Park Lelystad, you can. Here you will find some special animals threatened with extinction. In 2016, Nature Park Lelystad opened the ‘Wisentpad’'. If you go on this path, you literally walk in the territory of wisents and Przewalski horses. An adventurous route! Just follow the rules to keep it safe.
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In Horsterwold, in the Zeewolde region, you can encounter all kinds of wildlife. Among others, there is a large herd of konik horses. Join the ranger of the Forestry Commission in a tough all-terrain vehicle and go on safari. On the way, the ranger will tell you all about this special area and the animals living here.
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In the Waterloopbos, you will find the scale models of some thirty large waterworks from around the world. The Hydraulic Laboratory conducted research here in the 1950s and 1960s on the influence of flowing water on these structures. Now, no more research is being done and nature has taken possession of the remnants of the scale models. Animals like the kingfisher and dragonflies feel perfectly at home in the Waterloopbos with all that flowing water. A unique forest due to the interaction of nature and technology.
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It is the largest man-made nature park in the world and it is located in Flevoland: National Park Nieuw Land. Looking for unusual birds? You'll find them here. Like the Flevoland big-five.
On the north-eastern edge of the flat land of the Northeast Polder is Flevoland's oldest forest: the Kuinderbos. With water, a mountain, a castle and a stream. Here you can enjoy sheltered walks even in winter. It is teeming with unusual plants, mushrooms, butterflies, birds of prey and predators such as the pine marten.
In the Waterloopbos, you will find scale models of world-famous waterworks hidden under moss and plants. These were tested here by the Waterloopkundig Laboratorium in the late 1950s and 1960s. Because this area lies on the border between the old and the new land, natural rapids formed here. Animals such as the kingfisher and dragonflies feel perfectly at home here with all this flowing water.
Along Oostvaardersdijk lies the special nature reserve; the Lepelaarplassen. It is a true bird paradise with over three hundred species of birds. Walk through the area or take a bike and spot birds from the observation huts. Do put on your boots, because it is an area full of puddles, reed beds and wet grasslands.
When you think of tulips, you naturally think of Flevoland! Did you know that Flevoland is one of the largest tulip regions in the Netherlands? If you drive through Flevoland in spring, you can see it with your own eyes: the fields of Lelystad, Dronten, Zeewolde and Noordoostpolder are bursting with colour thanks to the colourful tulip fields.
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