De Deelen Nature Reserve
Gersloot
The De Deelen nature reserve was a peat mining area. Today the land is a mosaic of water, reed beds, patches of swamp forest and narrow strips of grassland. This wetland area is home to many species of birds. There is also unique industrial heritage here.
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- Open popup with image De Deelen bij Tijnje
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A century ago peat labourers shed blood, sweat and tears as they worked to strip peat from the land. Their hard work resulted in cartloads of turf for the stove. And just north of the town of Heerenveen it created a richly textured landscape, leaving a mosaic of water, reed beds, patches of swamp forest and narrow strips of grassland. The Turf Boating Route runs through this beautiful wetland. De Deelen is a typical peatland area. From the Middle Ages onwards, our ancestors took on the arduous task of excavating peat and creating farmland. Fascinating traces of this early human habitation are still being found to this day. Excavations show that in the early Middle Ages De Deelen was a busy centre. Production of turf on such a large-scale presumably brought trade and prosperity to the area. The nature reserve is a recognised wetland: thousands of ducks and geese arrive here in the autumn and winter. Rare species of birds such as the black tern, the purple heron and the Western marsh harrier also make their homes in the area. As you explore the De Deelen nature reserve you may come across a large piece of rusty machinery. This was the last peat cutting machine in Friesland and was last used in 1968. It stands several metres high and is an important piece industrial heritage. Sail more of the Turf Boating Route...
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In the neighbourhood
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Fietsrondje Heerenveen, Nye Skou, Akkrum
Fietsrondje Heerenveen, Nye Skou, Akkrum(50.0 km)Heerenveen -
Terband Heerenveen | Section 11 of the Bonifatius Kloosterpad Monastery Route
Terband Heerenveen | Section 11 of the Bonifatius Kloosterpad Monastery Route(15.5 km)Terband -
Fietsroute midden Friesland: Akkrum, Heerenveen, De Deelen
Fietsroute midden Friesland: Akkrum, Heerenveen, De Deelen(40.0 km)Akkrum -
‘The Other Friesland’: Heerenveen - De Deelen - Oranjewoud
‘The Other Friesland’: Heerenveen - De Deelen - Oranjewoud(50.5 km)Heerenveen -
Tusken de Boarn en de Deelen | Fietsroute
Tusken de Boarn en de Deelen | Fietsroute(64.5 km)Aldeboarn -
Haskerdijken - Aldeboarn | SUP- en kanoroute
Haskerdijken - Aldeboarn | SUP- en kanoroute(12.5 km)Haskerdijken
Locations
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De Oerpolder
De OerpolderHet Heidenschap, een moerassig gebied nabij Workum. 's Winters stond het gebied veelal onder water, 's zomers was het grasland. Friese schrijver Hylke Speerstra schreef er een boek over: hoe de boeren hier vroeger leefden en de harde werkelijkheid.
It Heidenskip -
Blaugerzen Grassland Area
Blaugerzen Grassland AreaBlaugerzen is a grassland area north of the town of Joure. These grasslands are part of the Lage Midden or ‘low midlands’ area of Friesland. The fen meadow reserve near the village of Akmarijp is the largest in the Netherlands.
Akmarijp -
Kapellepôle
KapellepôleHet kleine heideterrein ligt verscholen in het landschap. Voor de mensen uit de directe omgeving is het een plek om tot rust te komen.<br /> “In de Mi...
Wijnjewoude -
Vegelinbossen Forests
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Sint Nicolaasga -
Duurswouderheide Nature Reserve
Duurswouderheide Nature ReserveThe Duurswouderheide nature reserve is a large heathland reserve in Southeast Friesland that is managed by Staatsbosbeheer, the national forestry organisation that oversees the Netherlands’ green heritage.
Wijnjewoude -
Makkumernoordwaard Nature Reserve
Makkumernoordwaard Nature ReserveAlong the shore of Lake IJsselmeer there are three nature reserves on the sandflats outside the dykes. When Lake IJsselmeer was still the Zuiderzee, these coastal sandflats were flooded by the tides.
Makkum -
De Leijen Nature Reserve
De Leijen Nature ReserveDe Leijen is a beautiful nature reserve that includes a lake with small islands and rich surrounding nature that is worth exploring.
Rottevalle -
Blauhúster Poelen Nature Reserve
Blauhúster Poelen Nature ReserveThe Blauhúster Poelen (in Frisian Blauhúster Puollen) nature reserve encompasses three small reservoirs - It Fliet, Reidmar and Sipkemar - and the former natural drainage area of Tsjesskar.
Westhem -
Puur Terschelling
Puur TerschellingStap in de huifkar en ga mee op nachtelijk avontuur naar het donkerste plekje van Nederland, het Dark Skypark. Om in het park te genieten van een prachtige sterrenhemel.
Oosterend -
Flietsterbosk Forest
Flietsterbosk ForestFlietsterbosk is a small but varied recreational forest full of hawthorn, willow, beech, poplar and alder trees. This delightful woodland near the village of Witmarsum attracts a wide variety of birdlife, small mammals, butterflies and insects.
Witmarsum