Â鶹APP

Weerribben Wieden. Storage cut reed (Phragmites australis). Photo by Agnes Monkelbaan on

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Weerribben National Park

Weerribben-Wieden National Park is a Dutch national park located in the Steenwijkerland and Zwartewaterland municipalities in the Overijssel province. This national park contains the largest bog in North-Western Europe.

The park has two areas namely De Weerribben and De Wieden. In total, the Weerribben-Wieden National Park is 100 square kilometres.

It was founded in 1992, but the De Wieden section was later added in 2009. The unique landscape of the national park consists of water plains, swamp forests, reed beds and canals which attracts tourists who explore this beauty.

The exploration of Weerribben-Wieden National Park is so fascinating as tourists get to know the Dutch and also the Netherlands much better. Some tourists consider renting a kayak and go out kayaking, while others go out hiking, cycling, sailing and indulging in other activities.

Below are the top 10 Amazing Facts about Weerribben National Park:

1. The Park was Initially used for Peat Production

The main purpose of Weerribben National Park in the early 1930s was not for tourist attraction. The Dutch people had various uses for this bog area.

It was majorly used for peat production until the Second World War. Peat which is also known as the turf is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter.

It is used for domestic heating and others use it for skincare benefits. Since the Second World War, the Weerribben National Park has also been used for thatching reed production.

2. This Area Comprises the Largest Bog in North-Western Europe

De Weerribben-Wieden National Park. Frozen lake in swampy habitat. Photo by Dominicus Johannes Bergsma on

Weerribben National Park majorly consists of bogs. This is the largest bog that is located in North-Western Europe.

This bog or bogland is a large wetland which accumulates peat from deposits of dead plant materials. Most of the peat is generated from mosses. Some people have different names for bog including mire, mosses, quagmire and muskeg.

3. The Park is Divided into Two Major Sections

Weerribben National Park initially comprised of one area known as De Weerribben. Later on, in 2009, the De Wieden area was also made to be part of the national park.

The first section, De Weerribben was established in 1992. It is owned by Staatsbosbeheer. This area is thirty-two kilometres square.

De Wieden area was established in 2009 and forms part of the national park. It is majorly a lake and marsh area.

De Wieden is an excavated low Moor area which also consists of the Belterwijde and Beulakerwijde. This area is approximately nine thousand five hundred hectares.

4. Special Species of Birds are Found in this Park

This is a photo or sound file made in De Weerribben-Wieden National Park in the Netherlands, with the main subject of the file in the category: of animals. Photo by EB Doulton on

Being a swampy area, there are lots of fish which attract several species of birds. The majority of bird species found in the Weerribben National Park are large fish eaters.

Among the birds found here include the cormorant which has large colonies and curlew which occurs in large numbers inhabits this park. Special bird species are also found at the Weerribben National Park.

Some of these special bird species include the bittern, the purple heron and the black tern from the gull family. Several birds of prey, marsh harrier and rare short-eared owl can be found here. The other birds’ specials include four duck decoys.

5. Boat Trips and Sporting Activities are Held at Weerribben National Park

Weerribben National Park is largely covered with water. The De Wieden section has two lakes that have attracted several tourists from across the world.

Boat trips are possible across the section from Geithoorn and Belt-Schutsloot. The entry point is almost nowhere, but various visitors can navigate through it.

Canoes, kayaks, whisper boats, punts and sailboats are used to navigate through the waters of Weerribben National Park. Some tourists also do enjoy some sporting activities while on tour here.

6. Excavated Peat Created Large Expanses of Water

National Park Weerribben-Wieden. Walk on the Laarzenpad by the peat bog of the Wieden. Photo by Agnes Monkelbaan on

Weerribben National Park was previously an area for peat extraction. Peat was cut and made to dry on the narrow strips into what was known as ribs.

During the bad weather or when the sea broke into this area, the ribs broke away leading to the formation of the Wieden area. The excavated peat created larger expanses of water which made the inhabitants switch from peat production to fish farming.

7. Cane Cultivation still Takes Place at the Weerribben National Park

Part of Weerribben National Park was previously used to cultivate various things other than peat production. Approximately one thousand hectares of land in this park is used to cultivate thatch.

Some reed lands are exploited and owned by small private entrepreneurs who cultivate the cane. However, the cultivation of cane in the Weerribben National Park has some peculiar problems.

8. There are Three Types of Vegetation including Carnivorous Plants

This is a photo or sound file made in De Weerribben-Wieden National Park in the Netherlands, with the main subject of the file in the category: flora. Photo by Baykedevries on

The Weerribben National Park is an amazing area full of various types of vegetation. There are three major types of vegetation in the National park.

The open water, inland vegetation and swamp forests are the major types of vegetation in the Weerribben National Park. There is a mass of carnivorous plants known as bladderworts which float in the open water.

Examples of inland vegetation include the reed and cattail that form the water edges and aid in buoyancy. Water lily, crab scissors, yellow nugget, fireweed, bindweed, skullcap and water hemlock can be found here too.

The forests of the Weerribben National Park consist of alder and rowan which are found along the waterfront and in rough places. In the acidified area there are birches.

9. The Wetlands of The Park are Inhabited by Various Types of Dragonflies

Other than the bird species, there are other faunas including the dragonflies. There are more than three types of dragonflies in the Weerribben National Park.

They include: the dark damselfly, the northern winter damselfly, grateful white-snouted dragonfly and populations of Kempense dragonflies were also found here in 2013. 51 out of the 70 species of Dutch dragonflies have been observed in Weerribben National Park.

10. The Park Won Award for The Most Beautiful Place in the Netherlands

This is a photo or sound file made in De Weerribben-Wieden National Park in the Netherlands, with the main subject of the file in the category: of humans in nature. Photo by Ter-burg on

There are several beautiful places in the Netherlands. Weerribben National Park is among them which won a brilliant award.

On 27th November 2004, the De Weerribben nature reserve which is located in the park was declared the winner in a broadcast by NCRV television. It was named the most beautiful place in the Netherlands.

Weerribben National park is among the treasures of the Netherlands and is more frequent on an annual basis. This area is so special for family and friends’ adventures.