Naturally Netherlands

We live in a small country, criss-crossed by roads, motorways, railway tracks and canals, and interspersed with villages, towns, and industrial zones. So how has such a country managed to contribute so much to nature?

BY JOANNA BOUMA

It’s a wonder there’s any nature in the Netherlands at all, being the 27th most densely-populated country in the world. And indeed, many newcomers may look around and – because they don’t see acres of forest, imposing mountains or lots of wild animals – think there’s no nature here at all.

But while nature in the Netherlands is limited to specific areas and certainly needs a helping hand, as it does everywhere, only a few of us are perhaps aware of what flora and fauna are living – and thriving –across the country and in our coastal and inland waters.

Dutch in support

Did you know the Netherlands was instrumental in repopulating the seal population of Europe after the Phocine morbillivirus nearly wiped them out in the ‘80s? Or that it’s a rest and recuperation place for migratory birds? That huge colony of cuttlefish feeds and breeds here every year? That there are banks of wild oysters and soft corals in the waters around the land? That the country has a population of wild cats, and that orca, humpback whales, sperm whales, dolphin, and porpoise swim off its coast?

That otters and beavers frolic in inland water bodies?

That the country plays a role in the breeding and releasing of Przewalski’s wild horses and European bison? That the Netherlands has 19 species of bat and is again becoming home to predators like the sea eagle, wolf, jackal and wild cat?

Love of nature

The Netherlands is also home to many groups working in nature conservation. There are branches of international organisations like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Rewilding Europe, and more. There are also a lot of national organisations that work for nature. This article looks at just one of them Natuurmonumenten – loosely translated as nature monuments but its official English language name is the ‘Dutch Society for Nature Conservation’.

organisations that try to protect nature by keeping humans away, but Natuurmonumenten argues that when people experience nature first-hand, they’ll start loving it and take a more active part in protecting it.

Seek and Explore

So, leave museums and city sightseeing behind, go on a voyage of discovery and visit some Natuurmonumenten sites – their website has a map showing sites around the country. You can choose the activity you’d like to do – walking, animal spotting, visiting historic sites, cycling, clean-ups, boat trips, etc. Many activities are suitable for the whole family and wheelchair users. And you can even hold corporate activities and meetings in a place surrounded by nature.

More info

The Natuurmonumenten protects over 300 natuurgebieden (nature reserves) across the Netherlands. You can support it by becoming a member (€3.25 a month), donating, volunteering, purchasing from their website, and just getting out there! natuurmonumenten.nl

Life in parallel

Natuurmonumenten is a society of almost 900,000 members and donors which manages 110,000 hectares of nature in the Netherlands. These figures mean it’s one of the largest non-governmental nature organisations here and can thus exert some degree of influence at a local and national level. In a nutshell, Natuurmonumenten protects nature and the cultural heritage of its sites, promotes new nature, influences the protection of nature outside its own sites, and advocates on behalf of ecosystems and biodiversity. Many conservation organisations try to keep nature and humans separate and while this has its merits, Natuurmonumenten encourages people to go out into nature. This may be a different stance to other nature

While there could be more nature in the Netherlands – as there could everywhere else – there’s still enough here, but you need to keep your eyes open to spot it. Look out for different species of birds and count them – you’ll be surprised how many you see. Look up at twilight – even in urban areas – to spot bats. Look down on woodland paths to see the tracks of animals that have passed before you. Look through the forest to see if you can spot where wild boar have been rooting for grubs. And on beaches and lake shores, scan the horizon for those elusive sea eagles and see what kind of shells lie along the water’s edge at low tide.

You’re unlikely to see wolves, jackals, and wild cats as they shy away from people, but you might be lucky to capture them on film. Good luck. And enjoy! «

About the author

Joanna Bouma and her dog Cinta (which means ‘love’ in Malay) live in The Hague. Joanna is a freelance writer/editor/ translator and enjoys nature, hiking and playing badminton (which she plays very badly!). Cinta enjoys walks and food.