Bart
The Oostvaardersplassen was on my mind when you made your earlier
note. I spent a bit of time there late last October. Weather was not
so good and I was supposedly working so had little time for
photography. It does offer an excellent example of the resiliance of
nature when humans back off. I appreciate your comment regarding 'man-
made' but believe it or not, even here in Canada the notion of
pristine untouched nature is under debate. I suspect the real issue
is how best we can accommodate natural ecosystems adjacent to our
own. Next time I come over time willing I will make an effort to
visit Texel on your advice. I checked it last night on Google Earth.
Bob
On 27-Mar-08, at 10:02 PM, Bart Wientjes wrote:
>
> Robert,
>
> You have a good point, for a densely populated country as The
> Netherlands there are relatively large nature reservations. Only....
> they do not reserve nature as it has been, they reserve nature as it
> has been created. They are all man-made, on former agricultural
> grounds or sea bottom. That's just not the real deal to me.
> Anyhow, you are correct in them being impressive, especially the
> Oostvaardersplassen, near the IJsselmeer, which I suppose you refer
> to. If I am not mistaking Nathan has posted images of them.
>
> To continue my Texel promotion ;) , there is a reservation called 'De
> Slufter', where the sea is allowed to get behind the dunes, thus
> creating an interesting brackish biotope for many birds and plants.
> When you look the place up on google maps (53.139357,4.807978), the
> contrast with the adjecent farmland is striking.
>
> Regards,
> Bart
>
> P.S.
> Riddle of the Sands would be situated on the German Waddenzee islands,
> some 200 km to the East. They must be worth visiting as well.
>
>
>
> On 3/27/08, Robert McFetridge <rmcfet@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>> As I recall thats where the story Riddle of the Sands took place.
>>
>> By the way Bart I would have to disagree with you regarding the
>> Netherlands not having rural lands ( I am sure you must be kidding).
>> I have visited on a number of occasions and have been struck by the
>> rural environment. As a biologist I have visited several areas of
>> ecosystem restoration along the coast of the North Sea as well as
>> along the Iljsmeer (sp?) with Dutch and other colleagues where there
>> is some of the best marsh land restoration I have ever seen going on.
>> Without doubt the Netherlands are a busy , very full of people
>> country but 'wild' lands do exist and in a small way are growing once
>> again. Something the Dutch should justly be proud of.
>> Bob
>> On 27-Mar-08, at 3:46 PM, Chris Barker wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Oh, that brings back memories, Bart!
>>>
>>> I used to use the range on Vliehors next to Texel -- in Jaguars and
>>> Tornados based in Germany at Brüggen and Laarbruch. As we came
>>> off a
>>> bombing run we would turn left onto southeast to avoid overflying
>>> Texel. It was quite difficult sometimes as the visibility was often
>>> quite poor.
>>>
>>> But I've just had a look at Vliehors with Google Earth and I
>>> can't see
>>> the range's targets or control towers. It looks as if
>>> "Cornfield", as
>>> it was called, is no longer.
>>>
>>> http://members.home.nl/area36/milnl/vlie.htm
>>>
>>> I'm sure that a visit to Texel would be a tranquil experience,
>>> Donald ...
>>>
>>> Chris
>>>
>>> On 27 Mar 2008, at 19:06, Bart Wientjes wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Donald,
>>>>
>>>> Really rural areas do not exist in The Netherlands, but I guess you
>>>> mean the less-urbanazied parts. :)
>>>>
>>>> I would suggest visiting one of the islands in the Waddenzee. They
>>>> have a lot to offer if you're fond of sea and beach, but like
>>>> that to
>>>> be in balance with a bit of nature and quiet. Although tourism
>>>> is one
>>>> of their main lines of income, they seem to manage it very well; it
>>>> doesn't affect the charm of the islands.
>>>> The isle of Texel (http://www.texel.nl/index_en.html) is the
>>>> largest,
>>>> and easily accessible by ferry. All adolescents spend their time in
>>>> and around the town of De Koog, so all other towns are safe :)
>>>> Culinairly, the island's special is lamb but you can choose from
>>>> plenty of fish dishes as well. Ideally you can explore the
>>>> island by
>>>> bicycle. If you want to spare yourself from fixing Fiona's, rent
>>>> bikes
>>>> on the island. It is the common thing to do.
>>>> The smaller islands (Vlieland, Schiermonnikoog) have other
>>>> attractions. For one thing they are so small, they do not allow
>>>> cars
>>>> on the island.
>>>
>>>
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