National Park De Biesbosch - Nationalpark De Biesbosch

De Biesbosch is a national park in the Dutch Provinces North Brabant and South Holland between the rivers Boven-Merwede and Amer. In 1994 the 90 km² area was declared a national park.

background

history

The Biesbosch was created through the interplay of water, nature and people. In this inaccessible area, willow hackers, pipe cutters, rush weavers, hunters, bunk attendants and farmers earned a meager bread on remote farms. After 1970 this old culture disappeared when the tides ceased to exist due to the construction of the Haringvliet dam as part of the delta plan in Zeeland. Nature was given free rein and some polders were set up as drinking water basins.

The Groote of Zuidhollandsche Waard was a prosperous region in the Middle Ages, where agriculture, fruit growing and peat and salt extraction were among the most important sources of existence. The area must have looked something like the Krimpenerwaard or the Alblasserwaard in the 19th century: with lots of water, farming villages along the river dykes, but also some castles. In one night, on November 19, 1421, the St. Elisabeth flood transformed all of this into a 30,000 hectare inland sea. The 150-year-old ring dike broke in several places in the southwest, roughly at the site of today's Moerdijk bridges. This flood wiped an estimated 16 villages off the map.

Later dike breaches at Werkendam made the river water look for a shorter route to the sea. The salt water was pushed back to the North Sea and so the area turned into a freshwater tidal area, the only one in Europe. Since the sea and rivers washed ashore after the St Elisabeth flood, the underwater land came to lie higher and higher in the course of time. After all, whole lots of land stayed dry at low tide. Now plants could settle. Rushes were the first. The original name Bergsche Veld was popularly carried through Biesbosch ("Binsenwald") replaced.

landscape

The Biesbosch is a wetland area where large groups of birds find cover, food and nesting sites. Overwilding and the opening of polders create a freshwater marshland with a great diversity of species.

Grasslands

The grassy areas of Hengstpolder (moist loam) and Kop van den Oude Wiel (dry sandy soil) are in excellent condition, as they have been used as reserves for over thirty years. They have therefore escaped today's overfertilization. The use of chemical pesticides and artificial fertilizers is also not permitted.

Griend

Willow forests

From the hundreds of hectares in the past Griend (Willow forests) there are still 20 to 25 hectares left today. The wood was used to make barrels and as handles of implements. Most of the Grienden overgrown. In some places are still Griendketens, to find the huts of the griend workers. On the south-Dutch side of the Biesbosch there are still so-called tidal grids, which are flooded or dry out at high and low tide.

Before 1970 the Biesbosch was practically a cultural area: numerous people earned their bread here in the griend, rush or thatch culture. Hundreds of hectares of land were covered with thatch. It was cut and made into cane mats. After 1970 the shield plants dried up and weeping plants like the bindweed got the upper hand. In the Biesbosch, thatch is only cut sporadically.

Put under water

In autumn, employees of the forest administration let in so much water in some grassland polders that ditches and shallows are under water, but the higher parts of the land remain dry. Such soaked areas act like magnets on wintering waterfowl. Thousands of geese and hundreds of ducks such as shovelers, pintail, gadfly and teal stay overnight in such areas.

Grassing

Cows, horses and sheep graze the grassy areas in the Biesbosch. They help polders and other areas retain their "open" character. In the winter period, the animals come into the barn.

New nature

The image of the Biesbosch will change radically over the next 15 years. 2100 hectares of agricultural land are to be rededicated as nature areas and added to the national park. The Haringvliet locks were opened to 10 percent from 2005. This not only makes the nature of the Haringvliet more interesting, the elimination of an insurmountable barrier for salmon and sea trout is also important for the hinterland. It is expected that fish species such as the feint, smelt and the three-spined stickleback will also increase, which in turn is beneficial for birds such as the common tern and the spoonbill.

By 2015, the locks should be one-third open and only closed in the event of a storm surge. This gives the Biesbosch a tidal range of approx. 1 meter, not as much as before it was closed in 1970, but enough to bring the dynamism back into nature. The flow speed of the water is increased and larger parts of the land fall dry at low tide. Biologists expect that typical plant species such as rushes and strandsimmse will emerge, while today's nettle areas will disappear. The Biesbosch remains a freshwater tidal area with opportunities for nature and those seeking relaxation.

Flora and fauna

Depending on the biotopes, different plants and animals predominate. Hornets, meadow-foam cicadas, kingfishers, gray herons, Nordic voles and Europe's largest rodent, the beaver, who resettled in Biesbosch in 1988, live in the willow and flood forests. The only tree represented in the Biesbosch is the willow. Bluethroat and bittern as well as slender dragonflies live in the reed beds; the most important plants here are swamp iris, cattails, reeds and those only found in the Biesbosch Spindotters. After flowering around spring - with bright yellow flowers - hard roots (so-called be crazy). These enable them to spread in flowing water.

From April to June the aurora butterfly flutters in the nutrient-rich nettle meadows. In addition to stinging nettles as high as a man, swamp forget-me-nots and glandular balsam also grow there. On the hay meadows there are, among other things, the field scabious, yellow summer root, Nordic bedstraw, large meadow button, common trembling grass and small rattling pot. The clean water of the wet polders attracts the pond newt and the water shrew. The frog bite also grows here. The pond rush, its Dutch name, grows on the edge of the open water Mattenbies suggests their use in mats and baskets. Otherwise, the open waters are a refuge for gray herons, spoonbills, cormorants, wigeons, tufted ducks and white-fronted geese.

As a freshwater tidal area, the Biesbosch is also an important cover, feeding and mating area for freshwater and seawater fish. In addition to the traditional species of lead and pikeperch, aland, roach, catfish and perch have recently been sighted again. With the further opening of the delta, the sea lamprey, river lamprey, feint, allis shad, sea trout and salmon also increase again. Asp is a newcomer from Eastern Europe.

climate

getting there

Fees / permits

mobility

Solar boat

You can rent boats or use your own canoe to explore the water.

Tourist Attractions

If you are looking for information about the Biesbosch or want to explore nature, you will find it in the Biesboschcentrum Dordrecht. There is an information desk in the center. The exhibition "The Biesbosch, a Dutch jungle" gives an insight into the nature park for young and old. The multimedia show "Biesbosch Symphony" presents the Biesbosch in all its facets in 20 minutes to Mahler's music.
Open: May-September Mon-Sun 9 am-5pm; October-April Tue-Sun 10 am-5pm. Also open on Monday during the school holidays. 1.1., 2.1., 25.12 closed. Admission is free.
The Biesbosch Visitor Center of the State Forestry Office in Drimmelen would like to support visitors in exploring and enjoying the world of the Biesbosch. The exhibition shows how it looked here in the past, how it is today and how it will be. The center also provides information on excursions, water maps, canoe routes and brochures. Excursions can also be booked here, e.g. a combined boat trip / hike or a canoe tour.
Open: September-June Tue-Sun 10 am-5pm; July / August Mon-Sun 10 am-5pm. Closed 1.-3.1., 10.1., 25.12., 26.12., 31.12. Admission is free.
The Biesbosch Museum shows the rich cultural history of the national park for young and old. The focus here is on the cultivation of rushes, reeds and willow wood as well as their processing by wooden hoop makers, basket and reed mat weavers.
There is also information about fishing, hunting and poaching and the important role of the Biesbosch as an escape route during the Second World War. An exciting slide show shows the development of the Biesbosch from the St Elisabeth flood in 1421 to the present day. In a reconstructed beaver castle you can experience the life of beavers up close. Sturgeons, catfish, mirror carp and pikeperch swim in the two aquariums.
Open: 1.4.-31.10 .: Tue-Sat 10 am-5pm; so / ft 12-17 h. 1.11.-31.3 .: Tue-Sun 12-5pm 1.1., 25.12., 31.12. closed.
Entry: Adults € 3.00; Children (4-12) € 2.10; Seniors (65) € 2.40.
The museum takes you on a journey through time. The first room shows the Fossil Age, the Stone Age and the Roman Age. In addition, the sinking of the Groote Waard during the St. Elisabeth flood of 1421. Here, among other things, part of the sunken village Wolbrandskerke can be seen. In the second hall you immerse yourself in the world of hunting, poaching, duck berths, fishing and animals of the Biesbosch. Room 3 deals with rural life on the island of Dordrecht and Room 4 shows the old cultures of the Biesbosch, such as the Griend and thatch cultures.
Open: mi 10-16 h; sat-sun 12.30-4pm. Admission is free

activities

Cycling, hiking, taking part in excursions, swimming, boating.

  • On the day of the national park on May 25, 2014 there are offers for example: Go with the quiet boat to discover birdsong. see also

Offers in the park (only in Dutch) It will likely get full.

shop

kitchen

accommodation

There is a so-called "Green key" certification for the accommodations around the water area.

Hotels and hostels

  • 1  Stayokay Hostel, Baanhoekweg 25, 3313 LA Dordrecht. Tel.: (0)78 621 21 67.

camping

Camping is only possible to a limited extent in the nature park. There are probably numerous small campsites on farms on the edges of the Biesbosch. Most of these are located on the water, so that the Biesbosch can be reached by boat.

  • 2  De Biesboschhoeve (Jan and Ellie Saarloos), Biesbosch 24, Drimmelen. Tel.: 31 (0)183-502434. Adventurous camping. The farm and campsite is located on the island of "De Vischplaat", so it can only be reached by boat.

literature

map

Web links

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