De Kneer
Just a wingspan away from Amsterdam, between Almere and Lelystad, lies a vast and surprising natural area: Nieuw Land National Park. A varied, water-rich landscape that is constantly changing. Space for young delta nature forms the foundation for a true bird paradise: rare bird species feel at home here, and species that once disappeared from the Netherlands have returned. Nieuw Land National Park tells the typical story of land reclaimed from water, how the impoldering of the Zuiderzee created both new land and new nature. No other national park in or outside the Netherlands tells such a story.
Every visit is different, but always an experience.
Management
Lepelaarplassen
Welcome to the Lepelaarplassen area. Here, Flevo-landschap manages the Lepelaarplassen, the Wilgenbos, and the Vaartsluisbos, the area you are standing in now.
The planting sections with various poplar species and clones give this forest a typical Flevoland character. The golden oriole breeds here regularly, and rare moths have made it their home. The Lepelaarplassen were created through sand extraction during the construction of the Southern Flevoland Polder in the 1960s. In 1972, the first spoonbills nested here, at that time, almost extinct in the Netherlands. Hence the name "Lepelaarplassen." The adjacent Wilgenbos originated in the same period, from seeds of willow branches used by dike builders in mattress constructions. It feels like a primeval forest. Dogs are not allowed here.
Today, the Lepelaarplassen area is home to many (migratory) birds. Year-round, you can see and hear marsh harriers, great egrets, spoonbills, kingfishers, redwings, Cetti’s warblers, and bearded tits. The white-tailed eagle has been breeding here for several years now. A characteristic winter guest is the smew, a small merganser duck. In spring, the area is alive with meadow birds, barn swallows, bluethroats, and the emperor dragonfly. In autumn, redwings and barnacle geese pass through. So keep your binoculars at the ready!
Man-Made
New land and new nature
On a former seabed.
Nationaal Park Nieuw Land tells the story of centuries of human struggle against the water, of nature and landscapes created by human hands in a reclaimed area on the floor of the former Zuiderzee.
The Vaartsluisbos, located between the city of Almere and the natural areas of the Wilgenbos, Wilgeneiland, and Lepelaarplassen, is man-made. It was planted in 1985 and 1992 with poplars, a fast-growing tree species well suited to Flevoland’s clay soil. In the Vaartsluisbos, the locks, weirs, and bridges refer to the man-made nature of the land. The forest lies between the Hoge Vaart and the Lage Vaart, which are responsible for draining Southern Flevoland. The names refer to elevation: the Hoge Vaart drains the higher parts of Flevoland near the Randmeren, while the Lage Vaart handles the lower western areas. Each has its own water level, with a difference of about one meter. This difference is clearly visible at the Vaartsluis and the Blocq van Kuffeler pumping station, where the waters meet and flow into the Markermeer.
National Park
A unique part of the Dutch system of national parks
Nationaal Park Nieuw Land was granted national park status in 2018. It is one of the youngest and, with an area of around 29,000 hectares, also one of the largest parks in the Netherlands. It consists of four sub-areas: the Oostvaardersplassen, Lepelaarplassen, a part of the Markermeer, and the island group Marker Wadden. The nature and landscapes are, due to their origins, unique in the Netherlands and add value to nature on both a national and international scale. With its national park status, Nieuw Land is now part of the system of Dutch national parks.
Unmistakable
Bluethroat
“DZJIE, DZJIEEE, DZJIEEEEE” – once you’ve recognized the typical song of the bluethroat, it’s unmistakable. After a sharp start, it continues with clear notes, mixed with perfect imitations of other birds. Its call is loud and abrupt: “SJILAK.”
This small migratory bird is a distant relative of the well-known robin, but more closely related to the nightingale. The male has a blue chin and chest with a white spot (star) in the middle. The female lacks the blue chest, but like the male, she has a light eyebrow stripe and the same orange-brown tail with a black tip. The bluethroat is a true spring bird, favoring marshes, rough areas near water, reed beds and spots with scattered willow and alder trees. It starts nesting here in April, making ground nests lined with moss and other soft materials. The bird feeds on insects, spiders, larvae, worms, and snails, and occasionally on small berries and seeds. It usually searches for food on the ground. When singing, the bluethroat is often clearly visible on top of a willow, a post, or a reed plume or cattail cigar.
