Here is an idea for a excursion outside of Amsterdam by the water, in fields away from canals, birds, flowers and cows. [ Ссылка ]

What if, to better understand and appreciate Amsterdam, you had to leave town, take a bus up North and stop in the middle of the countryside to browse by canoe?

Majel from Wetland Safari takes you on a beautiful trip in the wetlands, 10 minutes away from the central Station of Amsterdam.

It starts in Watergang, a village with 83 houses and 217 residents. A cafe, a map introducing you to the area, and there you are, with a red life jacket on your back ready for an adventure.

The stroll is chilled. The area is chilled. Majel is chilled. All is good.

You will leave the picturesque canals of the village behind for the fields. Majel will talk to you about water, polders and dams, and the vegetation which makes the irrigation system possible.

The Dutch are the best in the world when it comes to water management and the creation of land out of inundated areas. A proverb says that God created the Earth and Dutch people created the Netherlands. Global warming, the rising of the oceans and droughts present new challenges. The increasing salanity of the water levels, dam soundness on the sea side and on the polder side… Dams must remain damp on the inside. If they dry up, they become brittle and they collapse.

Wetlands is a nesting or passage area for many migrating birds. Black-tailed godwit, ruff, purple heron, harrier, and other passerines. The best period to enjoy the birds’ presence is from spring to autumn. By then, most of the birds would have left for Africa or Asia.

You may come across cows surprised to see you there. They are taken from pasture to pasture on a barge.

Flora is surprising here too. The landscape may be dominated by reeds and rushes but you can see merciless carnivore plants, elegant meadowsweets, water mint, stunning water lilies, demure forget-me-nots or water irises.

If this landscape inspired Flemish painters, Rembrandt coming first to mind, it rather reminds you of Nympheas by Monet or to Manet when you enjoy a picnic amongst the flowers in the summer.

Back to the village, we made a dip in a shallow but refreshing lake, and at the end we have a drink all together to share our impressions. In our group, there were a Spanish couple splitting their time between England and the Netherlands and some Canadian women living in the US.

The trip takes half a day and it is a really unique and lovely experience.


More info on Wetland Safari : [ Ссылка ]


// Amsterdam travelguide : [ Ссылка ]
// Itinerary for a weekend : [ Ссылка ]



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