De Maasduinen National Park

The National Park De Maasdiunen, Dutch: Nationaal Park De Maasduinen, formerly Nationaalpark Hamert, is one of currently (as of 2012) 20 National Parks in the Netherlands.

Location

The park is located in the southwest of the country in the northernmost part of the province of Limburg. It is bounded on the west of the Meuse and the Dutch province road ( Provinciale away) 271, in the north of the A77, which passes in Germany in the A 57. To the east of the National Park at two locations immediately adjacent to Germany, with some areas in the east near the German border are inhabited or used for agriculture and therefore do not belong to the park. In the south it is limited by the boundaries of the village of Arcen, which is a district of Venlo today. Its longitudinal extent of from northwest to southeast is about 23 km with an average width of 2-4 km, while it is at its narrowest point, only a hundred meters wide at Afferden. The area of the national park in its present size comprises about 4500 acres (45 km ²) and is mainly attributable to the municipality of Bergen ( Limburg ) and to a much lesser extent in the district of Gennep.

History

The region was then struck during the Weichsel glaciation and of the rivers Meuse and Rhine, repeatedly changed her bed and here were deposited sediments as suspended solids, sand and gravel.

From a settlement in pre-Christian times is evident from some finds, such as arrow and spear points and axes, as well as cemeteries and grave hills, of which the pre- Graf ( princely grave ) is the most important. An archaeological excavation has not yet taken place in this grave.

In 1996, the National Park De Hamert, which was named after the nature reserve was established. Two years later ( 1998) the National Park extends towards the north to more than twice its original surface to about 42 km ² and has since been pursuing the name Maasduinen. By further territorial gains thereafter was he now has an area of ​​45 km ².

The area is predominantly in the ownership and management of the municipality of Bergen, the private foundation Limburgs Landschap, the State Forestry Administration State Forestry and privately owned.

Landforms and natural areas

The national park includes various natural habitats and landscapes and is one of the most diversified in the Netherlands. At the short shoreline on which the park is immediately adjacent to the Meuse, are still some wet meadows. Further east on already sandy bottom there are some smaller parcels with dry or nutrient-poor grassland. East extending therefrom as the main component of the protected area, a zone of Sickle and Paraboldünen and bog areas. The river or inland dune belt, which was formed from the quicksands of the river sediments, is one of the most important and the longest in the Netherlands. These areas were planted partly the late 19th century or early 20th century to be fixed with conifers or possess the typical vegetation types of heathland and moorland areas. Both particularly in the West as in the eastern border there is pasture and meadow areas which are excluded from agricultural use.

The most important rivers are the Maas and with quite a wide margin next to the Nierskanal mentioned.

The largest standing waters is the Reinders sea, arising on the loss of sand and gravel in the years 1971-2001 quarry, the may not be used for recreational activities and its natural development is left. It is by means of a small - connected channel with the Leukermeer, another touristy developed areas today quarry just outside the National Park and in the further course of the Meuse - not navigable. Other, much smaller waters are originated from former Torfstichen.

Nature

Flora and Fauna

Depending on the natural space environment conditions are diverse plant and animal species to be found. Thus, the marsh marigold ( Caltha palustris), autumn crocus, for example, find ( Colchicum autumnale) and the Tonquil ( Juncus effusus ) in the more humid regions, while in the sand and dunes embossed areas, inter alia, sand sedge ( Carex arenaria ), Scots pine occur (Pinus sylvestris), stem (Quercus robur) and sessile oak (Quercus petraea ) and in the heath and moorland areas, for example, heather ( Calluna vulgaris), bog myrtle ( Myrica gale ) or purple moor grass ( Molinia caerulea ) find as well as the lung gentian ( Gentiana pneumonanthe ) who occasionally grows on the wet meadows.

Besides numerous other occurring in the National Park just a few species here are listed as examples. On reptiles and amphibians, inter alia, the smooth snake ( Coronella austriaca ), the slow worm ( Anguis fragilis ), the sand lizard ( Lacerta agilis ), the Lizard ( Zootoca vivipara ), the natterjack toad ( Epidalea calamita ) and common spadefoot are ( Pelobates fuscus ) to call. In the avifauna alongside other types nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus), Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo), Buzzard ( Buteo buteo), Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella ), marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) and colored ( Dendrocopos major), green (Picus viridis) and black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius ) and the rare here Kingfisher ( Alcedo atthis) ago. The Common Crane ( Grus grus) is reflected in the logo of the park. The mammals themselves and some to the marten family ( Mustelidae ) found associated species as well as among other beavers (Castor fiber), red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus) or bat species common pipistrelle ( Pipistrellus pipistrellus ) and brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus ). In insects, you can now find a number of rare dragonflies and butterflies in the Netherlands.

Interference with the natural development

Although the area is classified as a national park, will continue to take (more or less unavoidable ) regulatory measures or interventions in the natural environment. For example, the existing conifer stocks are at least partially gradually replaced by deciduous trees. Meadows, pastures and heaths are grazed by sheep, goats and ( Galloway ) cattle and heathland are mowed or abgeplaggt to prevent a progressive encroachment of these natural areas. In the moors, the aim is that the existing today nutrient balance does not shift radically.

Tourism

Now three receiving sites were built for visitors to the national parks, which are all located in the west of the park area near the provincial road 271:

• To the north is located near the village of Afferden the " activity center De Zeven boom".
• In the middle part is the built last " visitor center Maasduinen " between the towns of corrugated and Nieuw Bergen.
• On the southern edge about halfway between Wellerlooi Arcen and the " receiving agency Jachthut op den Hamer " is located.

All three receiving locations have parking and are within walking distance of nearby bus stops accessible. During school projects and activities for registered participants are offered in the " activity center De Zeven Boom", have the other two access points on a tourist infrastructure with restoration and sanitation. From here, the National Park area by means of several signposted hiking trails, some of which have also been created specifically for electric wheelchairs, as well as designated bike trails, mountain bike trails and bridle paths is developed.