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Nature and Dunes Zandvoort at the North Sea
Zandvoort is bordered on the West by the beach and the North 
Sea, on the North and the East by the "National Park Zuid Kennemerland" and on the South by the "Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen". This makes Zandvoort a nature lovers paradise.
Urban Zandvoort is encircled by the “Kennemerduinen Nature Reserve” which offers extensive cycling and walking routes.
Some of the landscapes along the coast have even been declared National Parks.
The shy roe deer finds himself a hiding-place in this thicket and the protected escargot feeds on the herbal flora. This dense bush with plenty of berries and insects makes a very attractive territory for songbirds such as the whitethroat, stonechat and nightingale. In spring and summer flowering dune plants produce surprising colour contrasts: the bluish purple of viper’s bugloss set against the yellow of ragwort and evening primrose.
The real hiker can reach secluded areas by choosing the smaller trails. Some parts of the park, particularly in the northwest and the south, are reserved as a refuge for animals. These areas will be kept closed to the public, even when in future times more visitors are expected. For further and up-to-the-day information about National Park Zuid-Kennemerland see the website: www.npzk.nl
The area is open to the public for hiking, including off the paths; therefore, this area is a unique opportunity for nature lovers to explore this typical Dutch landscape. Prior to 1850, the dunes were not yet intensively used; however, there was hunting and poaching, cattle and some farms. In the northern part locals from Zandvoort had many potato fields in dune valleys. In 1851 a dune water company was founded with English capital. The water was collected from of the dunes near Vogelenzang and transported to Amsterdam through a large pipeline. The water collection ensured that the area was protected against the construction of roads and residential areas. On the other hand, the water collection has had a negative impact on the dunes: the ground water level dropped, leaving dune slacks without water; and since 1957 nutrient rich river water was brought in to increase the production. Since 1975 the river water is being purified before infiltration. From the important water flora and fauna it can now be concluded that the infiltration canals are among the cleanest water systems of the country.
In 1990 it was formally decided that nature management is the second main task for Waterleidingbedrijf Amsterdam, next to drinking water collection.
The major part is covered by mosses, grassland and low shrubs, often dominated by Privet and Sea buckthorn on the dry slopes and by Creeping willow in the valleys. Calluna heath can be found in the SE-part ('t Heitje). In sheltered areas shrubs develop, with Hawthorn and Oak, and willows and birch in the valleys. Many wet meadows have become rich in flowers, with sedges, violets, orchids and Grass of Parnassus. The area is also important for mushrooms (970 species, i.e. almost 25% of the Dutch mycoflora). Every year ca. 100 bird species breed in the area, including dune birds like Stonechat and Lesser whitethroat and reed birds like Bluethroat and Sedge warbler.
World War II bunkers as their winter shelter, hunt in large numbers above the ponds and the canals during summer. Due to the abundance of water the AWD is particularly rich on dragonflies and also the rare Water shrew has been frequently observed. Visitor centre: Visitor centre De Oranjekom (near entrance Oase), 1e Leyweg 4, 2114 BH Vogelenzang. Open: Tue-Thu 9:30-16h, Sat-Sun 9-17h (closed Mon, Fri). Call: 0031(0)23 5233595. Access: Entry tickets are available at the four main entrances (ticket machines) and at some of the catering establishments nearby.
North Sea; one flows through the channel between Orkney and Shetland (the Fair Isle current), and the other follows the continental slope north of Shetland and merges with the Fair Isle current southwest of Norway before entering the Skagerrak. The north-flowing Norwegian coastal current provides the exit route for North Sea waters, and is formed from the waters of these two major inflows and from other much smaller inputs such as river runoff, the English Channel, and the Baltic Sea. There is a rich diversity of zooplankton within the North Sea. Copepods are of particular importance in the food web. There are a wide range of fish stocks in the North Sea and adjacent waters and, in terms of species exploited by commercial fishery they constitute the richest area in the northeast Atlantic. The commercially important stocks exploited for human consumption include cod, haddock, whiting, pollock, plaice, sole, herring, mackerel, lobster, prawn, and brown shrimp. A number of stocks are used for fishmeal and oil; these stocks include sand eel, Norway pout, blue whiting, and sprat.
Sea, on the North and the East by the "National Park Zuid Kennemerland" and on the South by the "Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen". This makes Zandvoort a nature lovers paradise.
Urban Zandvoort is encircled by the “Kennemerduinen Nature Reserve” which offers extensive cycling and walking routes.
Some of the landscapes along the coast have even been declared National Parks. National Park
“De Kennemerduinen” lies close to Bloemendaal. It has the widest and most unspoiled dunes in the Netherlands. It measures 2,500 hectares. The park has dunes, dune lakes and coniferous and deciduous woods. You will come across unique flora and fauna along Holland’s coastline. The coastal area is one of the top ten bird areas in the world. Zuid-Kennemerland National Park The Dutch national parks fit well into the entire European network. In 1969 the Netherlands signed international agreements concerning the establishment of valuable nature reserves as national parks.The Dutch nature reserves
Are relatively small and often contain valuable ecosystems rarely found elsewhere, such as dunes, peat bogs and heathland. You can safely assume that if an area is designated as a national park, it contains valuable flora and fauna and is well worth a visit. Zuid-Kennemerland National Park lies in the heart of the busy Randstad urban conglomeration. Each year two million people visit the park for peace and recreation. Mostly people who live in or near the park go to their ‘rear dunes’ for outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, horse riding and swimming. The vast 3,800 hectare dune area primarily consists of young calcareous dunes with the rare species of flora and fauna that live there. Furthermore there are broad beaches, lovely inland dune forests and peat polders. The natural landscape is in marked contrast with country estates and other cultural-historical elements, such as bunkers and the sea village landscape. Originally the area featured wet dune slacks. Groundwater extraction during the twentieth century has caused water draw-down in many of these dune slacks and a decrease in the richness of species. The year 2003 marked the end of the water extraction period and the beginning of large-scale rewetting of the dunes.The dune slacks
Are recovering and getting wet again and many specialised species are returning. Administrative interventions such as grazing by running free cattle, cutting peat, excavating and permitting dunes to drift again are aimed at restoring the species variety. Behind the fore dunes the landscape is open. A creeper that thrives in the lime-rich sandy soil, the dewberry, helps hold the sand in place with its stems and underground root web. The low-growing burnet rose and the blue-coloured dune pansy love this zone as well. Further inland there is more shelter from the sea breeze. With these better conditions the vegetation increases and shrubs as the elderberry and spindle tree grow higher. www.npzk.nlThe shy roe deer finds himself a hiding-place in this thicket and the protected escargot feeds on the herbal flora. This dense bush with plenty of berries and insects makes a very attractive territory for songbirds such as the whitethroat, stonechat and nightingale. In spring and summer flowering dune plants produce surprising colour contrasts: the bluish purple of viper’s bugloss set against the yellow of ragwort and evening primrose.
The national park
Includes an extensive web of recreational facilities. Due to zoning the visitor can fully enjoy nature while not excessively disturbing plants and animals. Inviting footpaths and cycle and riding tracks run through the whole area, e.g. the Duinpieperpad in the Kraansvlak where you cycle through a sea village landscape patched with old farming lands.The real hiker can reach secluded areas by choosing the smaller trails. Some parts of the park, particularly in the northwest and the south, are reserved as a refuge for animals. These areas will be kept closed to the public, even when in future times more visitors are expected. For further and up-to-the-day information about National Park Zuid-Kennemerland see the website: www.npzk.nl
Duincentrum
De Zandwaaier Further information on the National Park, excursions and activities is available from the information desk at the Duincentrum De Zandwaaier tourist centre. The centre also provides restaurant, shop, library, permanent exhibition and kids corner facilities. Duincentrum De Zandwaaier Tetterodeweg 27, 2051 EG Overveen Call 0031(0)23 541 11 23 More info: info@npzk.nlDe Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen
The AWD is one of the largest dune areas in the Netherlands (3500 hectare); a large part is used for the collection of drinking water for Amsterdam. It has a considerable landscape variety (from open sand to woodland) and a rich flora and fauna.The area is open to the public for hiking, including off the paths; therefore, this area is a unique opportunity for nature lovers to explore this typical Dutch landscape. Prior to 1850, the dunes were not yet intensively used; however, there was hunting and poaching, cattle and some farms. In the northern part locals from Zandvoort had many potato fields in dune valleys. In 1851 a dune water company was founded with English capital. The water was collected from of the dunes near Vogelenzang and transported to Amsterdam through a large pipeline. The water collection ensured that the area was protected against the construction of roads and residential areas. On the other hand, the water collection has had a negative impact on the dunes: the ground water level dropped, leaving dune slacks without water; and since 1957 nutrient rich river water was brought in to increase the production. Since 1975 the river water is being purified before infiltration. From the important water flora and fauna it can now be concluded that the infiltration canals are among the cleanest water systems of the country.
In 1990 it was formally decided that nature management is the second main task for Waterleidingbedrijf Amsterdam, next to drinking water collection.
Flora & Fauna
As a result of the variety in landscape, vegetation and soils the area has a rich flora and fauna, and in particular a rich insect life. The terrain exists of forest en brushwood, open areas with blowing sands, moist and swampy valleys and dry plains. On places exposed to sea spray typical species like Marram grass, Sea rocket and Sea sow thistle can be found. In the more sheltered places and the inner dune forests plants like Honeysuckle, Hedge garlic and Bracken can be found. In total over 660 plant species occur, of which 27 can not be found elsewhere in the Netherlands.The major part is covered by mosses, grassland and low shrubs, often dominated by Privet and Sea buckthorn on the dry slopes and by Creeping willow in the valleys. Calluna heath can be found in the SE-part ('t Heitje). In sheltered areas shrubs develop, with Hawthorn and Oak, and willows and birch in the valleys. Many wet meadows have become rich in flowers, with sedges, violets, orchids and Grass of Parnassus. The area is also important for mushrooms (970 species, i.e. almost 25% of the Dutch mycoflora). Every year ca. 100 bird species breed in the area, including dune birds like Stonechat and Lesser whitethroat and reed birds like Bluethroat and Sedge warbler.
The AWD
Is a core area for the Sand lizard; it is relatively abundant, so other dune areas could perhaps be recolonised from the AWD. Other abundant species are: Red fox, Roe Fallow deer, especially because of the absence of shooting. Small predators (Ermine, Weasel and Polecat) are rare. The number of rabbits, once a key species for the dunes, has dramatically dropped as a result of the VHS-virus in the nineties. Bats, usingWorld War II bunkers as their winter shelter, hunt in large numbers above the ponds and the canals during summer. Due to the abundance of water the AWD is particularly rich on dragonflies and also the rare Water shrew has been frequently observed. Visitor centre: Visitor centre De Oranjekom (near entrance Oase), 1e Leyweg 4, 2114 BH Vogelenzang. Open: Tue-Thu 9:30-16h, Sat-Sun 9-17h (closed Mon, Fri). Call: 0031(0)23 5233595. Access: Entry tickets are available at the four main entrances (ticket machines) and at some of the catering establishments nearby.
The North Sea
A flooded portion of the Northwest continental, margin Europe occupying an area of over 200,000 mi2. (500.000 km2) The North Sea has extensive marine fisheries and important offshore oil and gas reserves. In the south, its depth is less than 150 ft (50 m), but north of 58° it deepens gradually to 600 ft (200 m) at the top of the continental slope. A band of deep water down to 1200 ft (400 m) extends around the south and west coast of Norway and is known as the Norwegian Trench. The non-tidal residual current circulation of the southern North Sea is mainly determined by wind velocity, but in the north, well-defined non-wind-driven currents have been identified, especially in the summer. Two of these currents bring in water from outside theNorth Sea; one flows through the channel between Orkney and Shetland (the Fair Isle current), and the other follows the continental slope north of Shetland and merges with the Fair Isle current southwest of Norway before entering the Skagerrak. The north-flowing Norwegian coastal current provides the exit route for North Sea waters, and is formed from the waters of these two major inflows and from other much smaller inputs such as river runoff, the English Channel, and the Baltic Sea. There is a rich diversity of zooplankton within the North Sea. Copepods are of particular importance in the food web. There are a wide range of fish stocks in the North Sea and adjacent waters and, in terms of species exploited by commercial fishery they constitute the richest area in the northeast Atlantic. The commercially important stocks exploited for human consumption include cod, haddock, whiting, pollock, plaice, sole, herring, mackerel, lobster, prawn, and brown shrimp. A number of stocks are used for fishmeal and oil; these stocks include sand eel, Norway pout, blue whiting, and sprat.
