Oostvaardersplassen

Welcome to Oostvaardersplassen, an accidental wilderness that emerged from the very bottom of the sea. As you stand here at the edge of the reserve, taking in the sweeping vistas of reeds and water, you are looking at a landscape…

As we walk along the starting perimeter, take a moment to observe the robust physical boundaries that define this entire landscape. The towering fences and heavy dikes that surround us serve as the absolute dividing line between…

Leaving the perimeter behind, we now step onto the wooden boardwalks that weave through the waterlogged heart of the reserve. Breathe in the rich, earthy scent of damp clay and decaying vegetation that defines this incredible…

Continuing past the marsh, the landscape abruptly opens up into vast, sweeping grasslands that stretch toward the horizon. The wind sweeps freely across this open plain, rustling the short grass and carrying the distant, low…

As our path curves slightly inland, we approach scattered, dense stands of pale willow trees. Notice how the lower branches are completely stripped of leaves and bark, creating a uniform, distinct grazing line carved by the…

We now step into the elevated wooden observation hide, designed to offer sweeping, panoramic views across the expansive mudflats and deep water channels. Look through the viewing slits, and you will immediately understand why…

As we leave the observation hide and walk toward the more exposed, wind battered stretches of the grasslands, the atmosphere of the reserve shifts dramatically. During the warm summer months, this area is a paradise of abundance. …

We now approach the administrative heart of the reserve, a cluster of utilitarian buildings that house the rangers and land managers. This area represents the dramatic, definitive end of the pure non intervention experiment. …

As our journey concludes near the park exit, take one final, sweeping look out over the vast, complicated landscape of Oostvaardersplassen. The journey we have taken today through the reeds, the willow thickets, and the sweeping…