Page 266 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

264  NOR THERN AND EASTERN NE THERLANDS

Environmental Policy

In the 1990s, the Dutch government drew up the Natuurbeleidsplan, a SCHIERMONNIKOOG
programme designed to make nature reserves accessible to the public. AMELAND
This is of great importance to the northern and eastern Netherlands, with TERSCHELLING G R O N I N G E N
their many lakes, woods and polders. The region’s ecosystem has been W E S T F R I S I A N
divided into core areas, development areas and connecting zones in an I S L A N D S F R I E S L A N D
attempt to give permanence to the natural environment. The connecting VLIELAND Groningen
zones join the areas together. When the policy is fully implemented, it Leeuwarden
will aid in the survival of many plant and animal species.
TEXEL
Assen
Key
Core area
Natural development area
Existing or planned
connecting zone
N O R T H
Existing or planned connecting D R E N T H E
zone to cross­border nature reserve H O L L A N D
0 kilometres 10
Lelystad
0 miles 10
F L E V O -
AMSTERDAM L A N D O V E R I J S S E L
The Waterleidingduinen (water Zwolle
supply dunes) are only partly Haarlem
open to the public.
Enschede
The osprey was a rare sight G E L D E R L A N D
in Holland for many years. The Hague
Thanks to the Natuurbeleids­ Utrecht
plan, sightings of this bird S O U T H U T R E C H T
of prey have become H O L L A N D Arnhem
more frequent in Rotterdam
recent years.

Special road signs have been Z E E L A N D 's-Hertogenbosch
designed to warn
motorists of migrating G E R M A N Y
toads during that
animal’s mating
season. Usually shy, Middelburg N O R T H B R A B A N T
toads come out
en masse when
mating. Eindhoven

Read the Signs! Antwerp B E L G I U M
Most natural areas (or parts of them) in the L I M B U R G
northern and eastern Netherlands are freely The adder is the only
accessible. However, some parts are open only venomous snake in
from sunrise (zonsopkomst) to sunset Holland and is very rare
(zonsondergang), and it is therefore important to here. However, this
read the signs. It goes without saying that you small, distinctive snake
should not make excessive noise, cause damage or can still be found in
leave litter in the area. Further information is sandy regions and peat Maastricht
available at VVV offices, the ANWB and the moors. In order to feed
Vereniging Natuurmonumenten (tel. 035­6559933).
properly, adders require
an extensive habitat. Aachen

264-265_EW_Netherlands.indd 264 16/01/17 12:05 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Feature template “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.3)
Date 18th October 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm