www.lauwersmeer.groningen.nl/en

has been compiled and processed with the greatest possible care. Marketing Groningen disclaims all liability for any errors. errors. any for liability all given disclaims Groningen information the All Marketing care. DISCLAIMER: possible Commission (Staatsbosbeheer). This map Forestry has the Dutch been with in devised collaboration Groningen greatest the with Marketing processed and COMPOSITION: compiled been Project has Noun The ICONS: G2K DESIGN: 2016 © October COLOPHON

www.tourism.groningen.nl

0.15 per minute) per 0.15 ( 50 30 202 0900 T €

Grote Markt 29, 9712 HS Groningen HS 9712 29, Markt Grote

Park, an absolute must-see. absolute an Park, GRONINGEN TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE (VVV) OFFICE INFORMATION TOURIST GRONINGEN

the sea. This is Lauwersmeer National National Lauwersmeer is This sea. the

For more information, please go to www.np-lauwersmeer.nl to go please information, more For

fishing pier that is accessible for wheelchairs. for accessible is that pier fishing

this place used to be at the bottom of of bottom the at be to used place this would you rather go fishing? If so, there are plenty of great fishing spots on a on spots fishing great of plenty are there so, If fishing? go rather you would Or

at Jaap Deensgaat and Ezumakeeg are all easily accessible for wheelchairs. wheelchairs. for accessible easily all are Ezumakeeg and Deensgaat Jaap at

MS Vlinderbalg (Oostmahorn) and MS Silverwind launches and the hides hides the and launches Silverwind MS and (Oostmahorn) Vlinderbalg MS The the seashells are the only sign that that sign only the are seashells the

specially for wheelchair users that take you along wide concrete cycle tracks. tracks. cycle concrete wide along you take that users wheelchair for specially

(Staatsbosbeheer, De Rug 1, Lauwersoog). There are two routes mapped out out mapped routes two are There Lauwersoog). 1, Rug De (Staatsbosbeheer,

Highland cattle and Konik horses, and and horses, Konik and cattle Highland

restaurant (Strandweg 1, Lauwersoog) or at the Forestry Commission offices offices Commission Forestry the at or Lauwersoog) 1, (Strandweg restaurant

Wheelchair users can reserve an all-terrain wheelchair at Het Booze Wijf Wijf Booze Het at wheelchair all-terrain an reserve can users Wheelchair

across large grazers such as Scottish Scottish as such grazers large across

WHEELCHAIR USERS USERS WHEELCHAIR

DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME MAP NIGHTTIME AND DAYTIME

spoonbills and raptors. You will come come will You raptors. and spoonbills

Address: De Rug 1, 9976 VT Lauwersoog VT 9976 1, Rug De Address:

NATIONAL PARK NATIONAL too. there

geese, water and reed birds, waders, waders, birds, reed and water geese, the immediate vicinity, and lots of activities for people of all ages are organised organised are ages all of people for activities of lots and vicinity, immediate the

You can see and experience all kinds of things in the activity centre as well as in in as well as centre activity the in things of kinds all experience and see can You

Lauwersmeer National Park. And it is a nice place to spend a few hours as well. well. as hours few a spend to place nice a is it And Park. National Lauwersmeer and marshy bogs are a paradise for for paradise a are bogs marshy and

LAUWERSMEER LAUWERSMEER explore to which from point starting ideal the is Centre Activities Bosschuur De

DE BOSSCHUUR ACTIVITIES CENTRE ACTIVITIES BOSSCHUUR DE

green grasslands, reed beds beds reed grasslands, green Its

This map gives a summary of daytime and nighttime activities in the reserve. reserve. the in activities nighttime and daytime of summary a gives map This

Rugged natural open landscape. landscape. open natural Rugged

Park. National Lauwersmeer Netherlands: the in reserves nature beautiful

When the Lauwers Sea was closed off in 1969, this created one of the most most the of one created this 1969, in off closed was Sea Lauwers the When

LAUWERSMEER NATIONAL PARK NATIONAL LAUWERSMEER PARK NATIONAL LAUWERSMEER EN

G E D A W P

D KWASTW Wadden Sea ALLAR EG If you think that the Lauwersmeer nature EDIJK OUDEZE

- K R J E I T D reserve goes to sleep at night, you could S K - EI J W I P S D NT A BA KU A ST H WE C K G PIETERBUREN S US 4 WESTERNIELAND T- LAUWERSOOG not be more mistaken. The area has a t K r J K Po EN I U Fe rry AV D S - T H N361 E E W E G

. Z D E E U

W D O WEG G R U E E

O dynamic nightlife! T W S WIER K HUISTER J -

I D BROEK D. ASTR. I HO W I ENG E OFD- ER W G ST W R Many animals come out of their hiding places at night because they feel E A A A Y T D W D D A N E . M A N safer in the dark, while others go on the prowl because they prey on E W W R W WEI S D E R JISTER B T S E R E D T R G E T A E N G R E S D F N - E IE nocturnal animals. And some plants depend on nocturnal moths and G L D W A . N

R

M D DIJ . E . KSTERW BR A OE K N H SUYDEROOGH ST insects. It is good to know that Lauwersmeer National Park is a spot M ERW E . B S

E O

HORNHUIZEN H

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O I W O E

E

W S R G

W E T

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where it really does get dark and there is hardly any light pollution. G E E

W R G OU E E

DE R D E D

5 L G I E J PO K W G S ST W TE

E KLOOSTERBUREN R E W N W

The reserve has earned the name Dark Sky Park as a result. E G E G

- KRUISWEG R R E E T H S G

T E

Come and experience true darkness! K S

Y I

T W D I

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R W

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A E N WEG L L E A E- HO H. G D RN E O T E

MA FD A K I D N W S W E Y N TR A R S E R TE K D NS N T D S DE BOSSCHUUR VA E OR N H N T - A T C H

UG S R U B G E A W ACTIVITIES CENTRE E P K R I W S R P E E E W E W OMMELAND N O S

R T . B . ER B E G R W W . B N361 E G G r E E O R. S U De Kolken W G G G IE R a W PERSEUS G J E L E u a R l K E T ia I ST A n m RN W a N r HO E T t N e I o U t

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W E L R

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E N s N a D I C G W N W R n a H WEHE-DEN A 3 E E r m G E H A POLE STAR E D o r M W E G I L A e t o t R

O E h P H W HOORN K s S P E

N c W r DE T L T N S R N o D u RASKE O S ULRUM E I A E T R u V J E O S N W G a O b E a S Y D W E r r N O T WALKING WITH L E t e - - R W E I N - E t E S S IEL G R W T T BR e lo S E E IR. A.J. VAN DEN i af N R . RTE R W P -B EG URSA MAJOR E R

BA - W G LEENS r RW

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- S A D U S A AIKESHOF I S W w R THE STARS N N

E MARNEW e N M EG T E I Vlinderbalg VIERHUIZEN E E A g E E W n A P P V R i URSA MINOR S O

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W L A LG A S s t E G D A n

Going on a walk in the dark is a very special B E H V H P W

a e B N L R R

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B L S T M l P D G

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experience. And it certainly is pitch dark at E D N D

s G N

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L E E VALG W

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e T DIJ E E I N K G a

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. o I I ILS W Lauwersmeer National Park! Let your eyes get H K S N S P S W - T

M TE R NSTER G B WEG LEE AA used to the darkness firstRE of all. All the light STR. DELPHINUS I D HOOFD MENSINGEWEER E E KO H. fixtures in the reserveW have beenAI- specially L EI Jaap L DW D R E - EA E W A M R G P G E adjusted to cause as little light pollution as E R ABELSTOK N N N - T A I O D Deensgat I O T L W r O S S E R G e S U IL possible. If you are walking in the dark, you t E B N W T G UIT E

s K E E F S E Mensingeweerster n W

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cannot see very much in your immediate l C N A TERW S

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vicinity, but objects in the distance are clearly E h P M N A M A c PROVINCIALE WEG

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I R B visible and theyH are your only reference points. E r

O N A E

G Hunsingo- A A A A I R e R E 2 D E CONSTELLATIONS N A t D - R ER R R E E E L s And of course, on clearE nights you can use the R W M D T kanaal K e T W O L

O . R E C S I EK a h E U A G E N R T - r M f e G E W N N stars to guide you! Experience the darkness at B M P E h W V E T W

I E E u R E N A G Ursa Major or the Great Bear is located ‘in’ our own galaxy, N G R K i W A EK H S W L s

A N A N W W O WEI E N L te EG

U R I

S S A r WARFHUIZEN R W Lauwersmeer National Park. Look at the stars S E T A

M A E I E N

E R t T LD S S is a group of stars in the the Milky Way. If you go to really R A L E

P - E h S A V W N B L E T c L -

K A S W J D with the observators and walk through the E E I o S . G S E E P T N t Z

northern celestial hemisphere. dark places like Lauwersmeer C W

E E N S K R E ZOUTKAMP A E e L

C K . E G T L M E R A w A

H park withS the forest ranger. A VL W R W The brightest stars in this Dark Sky Park, you can see this A R A u - N K l L S U T ZUURDIJK A K E LA E I E a o G O I o T S R p G H E IE w R d constellation form the outline galaxy as a lighter strip across D T C W Z ie K D F S E K HOUWERZIJL p E L O of the saucepan and are easy the night sky. The Milky Way is R O R. O S K I 6 T G H N E Jachthaven SS E E N W W N R to identify. The shape has made up of between 200 and IT IJ IO LÂ E O N Hunzegat T H TA P G absolutely no resemblance to a 400 billion stars! S M SCHOUWERZIJL

T R.

A

A G K A KA T bear, and the name, like that of R TT L A N U T E S E SI K N R S B A D O U MA BAKKERS- K R Ursa Minor or the Little Bear, Perseus consists of two Z G R FDSTRAAT ER E

OO HO W R PLEIN E - WALKING TRAILS AT LAUWERSMEER DARK SKY PARK K H G CHUR O O

- CH FD E

IL O

is probably derived from Greek diverging ‘strands’ of stars. R L W S

E H W. E G

D

G D

T O EWE E

S O R L

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I E T G W H

mythology. The annual meteorite shower E V

ZU A E

S I A D D L

A W N I

(‘shooting stars’) in mid-August A G S 1 3 5 A T W THE DARKEST CYCLE TRACK IN THE NETHERLANDST NIJE FAERT BALLASTPLAATBOS L E ER S - Ursa Minor is located with is known as the Perseid meteor E Rechteind W

N N G

IJ G Anyone game to try it? The darkest cycle Ltrack in the W A walk along the Nije Faert near Esonstad. You can walk Try a walking tour through Ballastplaatbos woods! G W E S

 E E Z CHA L

its back to Ursa Major. This shower and was named after F N E E I W P IJ W G J H S I W Z J - G LV - A E - S E EST Kromme LS T E R Winsumer- Netherlands is probablyL the one in the Kollumerwaard. It along the top of the dyke or down on the beach, whichever This tour takes you past black water at times, while R D L I E VL F W constellation is a lot smaller and this constellation because these I N T IE Z

N E D O U R G T O E S I I U E Raken diep W J Middelgat R O

really is pitch black here andR no light whatsoever is visible. you prefer. Experience how black the water is at night! at others you can see lights in the distance. It is very L RD T

E L N P IJ E H K S the stars are less bright, which meteorites apparently originate E Â S

D T C N E

R T The cycle track starts at Kwelderweg and finishes at exciting, especially if there is a bit of wind! R

may well be why it is not so well from it. W R A

1 G E - O

E G S -

K O Hooge Zuidwal. When you get to the end, you will see the 4 LAUWERSOOG HARBOUR D W N J known. The most famous star G IT I D

E TE D E

E R R S

O W H

I E J 6 L G

in the Ursa Minor constellation Delphinus is a small and rather lights at Zoutkamp, the Grijpskerk gas jet and the glow of A nocturnal walking tour around Lauwersoog harbour ZOUTKAMPERRIL A

S P N388

A D D R O Dokkumer N D E is the Pole Star and Ursa Minor dim constellation which can be A

the city of Groningen awayI to the south-east. is a truly amazing experience. You can see the lights Go for a walk along Strandweg past the Zoutkamperril S N M D G T

A M N E Djip R

itself looks like a saucepan with found near the bright star Altair W A on the boats and at the harbour and the lock, with E near Zoutkamp, where there is a fantastic view of the - E ENGWIERUM N V I M TERW the handle at the bottom. in the Aquarius constellation. S E GS E 2 N Y L A G EZUMAZIJL E Schiermonnikoog in the distance. And there is a lovely view fishing port industrial estate all lit up. If you turn around, L R L I D R S It is rather hard to spot, but it is O W SAAKSUM D A U I B T N

E W AJ AwalkingAC tour ofJA AEzumazijl.CH You can see the lighting and N of LauwersoogE harbour all lit up from the car park by Hoek you will see the Willem Lodewijk van Nassau Barracks and p M HPAAD PAA Û R KWELDERWEG die T

E G U Cassiopeia forms a big ‘W’ in fantastic once you have found it D M W SLIKWEG E S M

E T W E

gas jet at Oostmahorn if you walk along the blackness of van Bant. If youI go to the beach at De Rug, you will also the Vierhuizen windmill. - G R E S t E - the night sky and it can be seen because it really does look like a R R D E i A W - LAUWERZIJL W A T W P T S e EZINGE L the water. have a great view of Nieuw Robbengat and theK harbour I T E L N A R E

LE G E all year round too (circumpolar leaping dolphin. S N D G

Dokkumer SW R S

Lunegat N E M

lights across the water. You can go on walks withI a forest ranger all year round. Have G E W constellation). This constellation W G

U Muntsjesylster Ryd

Grutdjip D A

R E

W E - - Â O G K

L a look on www.np-lauwersmeer.nl for a list of all the activities. R E K A

D W K E N ÂL M T E

DYK D R Y P.

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D P G U D A E L

Y W S A E

I S J I

K I N S N

O E EL Z - E KOLLUMERPOMP CTR W AWEG N358 TE - VA G EN R N S FEERWERD

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S E D L R y W N E F r O W E W O s E E G U IJ I EI A IN d G R L U B SW G n - a EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS UNIQUEA PLANTS R A N - E W OOSTER l EG j DE R L i

L G Z W N E R N S

D JK O EMAW. E I W EG A D ENEW WARFSTERMOLEN W Kommerzijlsterriet IK L O

W D G R E A U O E

R S A T T The animals living in Lauwersmeer National Park O Come and explore the reserve with our forest E R S U E G W E R R T Y O D T - - D E S LD W E W G R E d s W E A R W y t A E B R W Nije ER R u E D G make the surrounding area even more beautiful. E rangerO and discover everything it has to offer!u G G r E - E E W G M G G S R . O Swemmer R G E u E R W d O

E U W G W e D -

EPAA YTS H E R L

L D D

Come and see them in their natural habitat! L E

RE W L - C W E

P I NIEHOVE T A

I G I

U A R J AIK M A S J E K E A F K D A U COMMON SEA BUCKTHORN MARSH HELLEBORINE O G O

L W B G U W O

R H E L I A D E EEGS KKE NIE

R R T O R W E The sea buckthorn’s orange berries are not only The grasslands in the northern partE Rof the O OST DA

T S W ER - D

W Sylster Ryd E l -W M d A o G l A E

R c Y a KOMMERZIJL E R L D G A E n D h

SPOONBILL G a magnificent sight; they are a source of food for Lauwersmeer nature reserve turn white in August I N r J E D R s K t

G E e r W I L - W t EG y W E Â A s ers

E d Lauw P

N S E p R

The spoonbill is a striking-looking bird with its white N thrushes too. Thrushes migrate from Scandinavia to due to a species of small orchid known as marsh S G d E P T ry m

U wars DE NOORDERRIET A D o e N A L KOLLUM P D D R feathers and odd-shaped bill. This bird nests on the R their winter quarters in the autumn, and they make e helleborine. This little plant is extremely rare and is O E W D T G H E A G DE WYGEAST E D EI W A AW Wadden Islands, but it comes to the Lauwersmeer A W a stopover at the Lauwersmeer reserve. And that is protected by law. It likes to be in a sunny spot with M R . IJ S R PA E O L G E F .D. E D D V W R . A N O M L W S I N N nature reserve to forage for shrimps and sticklebacks. exactly when the buckthornER berries are ripe for them damp soil. The flowers mainly attract wasps - hence A J

G E U E N PIETERZIJL T G

O W G WE

R U SWARTE-OUDWOUDE Sân- B E E LEMAWEI R M From the end of August on, hundreds of spoonbills - AL to eat! the Dutch name of moeraswespenorchisW - as well as SW T De Rijd E

O o WEI U E Z c R

W DEN HAM h E wielen G u U K t i - R-

E J E

adults and juveniles alike - gather at Lauwersmeer E hoverflies, beetlesE and ants. REEDS d D ENS ZUID G E e EM E A- G r - r AN E HEEREBUREN e lake for their migration to West Africa (Mauritania EURASIAN BITTERN OTTER F A N Reed beds are extremely important as nesting places m

E L u A S H s A A M n

A T O W a

R EG

M K E r C G T E F M R and environs) to spend the winter there. The bittern is a rather squat brownish-yellow variety The otter was extinct in the NetherlandsH at the end of SOUTHERN MARSH ORCHID for reed birds such as bearded tits, buntings, Savi’s E S W W . W

I D C G C W IJ Y E E O E K H BURUM - T G R G T W of heron and it is extremely shy. If danger threatens, the 1980s.T However, after otters were reintroduced WHITE-TAILED EAGLE You can see masses of southern marsh orchids at the warblers and sedge warblers, and they provide Eshelter S W

W H C E . M A W Zijldiep S G R E S F E - G O RA I A e r N M E P B SU HESS i

it immediately points its bill upwards and freezes in at Weerribben-Wieden National Park in Kop van This bird is not easily heard, but you reserve in May and June. This orchidN is protected by for shy birds like spotted crakes and bitterns as well. T - d K A I e A I l R E J RST E d I

O S VO E . O T FOAR . G D W D Y EI W S - E E this elongated position, which makes it almost invisible Overijssel, the species started to advance to the . can hardly miss seeing it. When the law, but of course you can take photos, or just look And reed beds also protect riverbanks (riverbank K E P R Kommerzijlster- W O W

E E Z U N BAENSEIN I Z N388

S E E W N N D LIMBG. STIRUM- V D I E O

S N J

W N E E A

I A G L D among the reeds. Bitterns nest in theT extensive reed north. This was a great success! A population of white-tailed eagle soars through the and admire it without touching. The flowers are a defence system) against erosion caused by waves and O

V L J N

R V T D G E J diep IJ

E . H I S K E R K H R

- T U Z W

AARD N S W T WEG

. . I D S T S Y E O E

H V T U I

swamps and you can hear the males’ mating call - these beautiful aquatic animals has been living in the R air with wings spread, it measures E striking pinkish-purple colour with dark red dots or currents. D E

A E . R GRIJPSKERK D E

.

. R B De Dwinger E U T

N

W R W D R I O S

WEI WILHELMINA- E T Langdeel NIEZIJL JK E S E - known as ‘booming’ - between March and June. Their Lauwersmeer nature reserve for a few years now, and at least two metresG in width and one stripes on the lip.W - V E G H E PARK E R D R L E E DEL O ude E D G WEN O M N910 VISVLIET T S H L G NOORDHORN S. G

A T

S V E E diet consists of frogs, fish, large insects and even they obviouslyH feel at home there! metre in length. The ‘flying door’ as it is WILD CARROT G E I R E

U W

E D L D E A

W U D

E TR W I W E EK J H

- E S

M E E N K A W mice in the winter. colloquially known, has been nesting at R The wild carrot is the ancestor of our edible carrots. G G T

R E S D E A M E

G S R A L L T De Lauwers G O - W -

R U -

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A Lauwersmeer since 2010. ER B SCOTTISH HIGHLAND CATTLE AND KONIK HORSES W S G This plant with its unusual flat starry white flowers is E W EG NE R N355 t G A A PA ie LO . D ATWEG R H RA BARNACLE GOOSE GH If the Forestry Commission did not take any action, a common sight at the reserveFRI EinSE SJulyT and August, and N N G A E IRWE STR. RAATWEG S E E D T EL W H OF SS G G IJK . T EG HO JK E The barnacle goose has a compact build and can easily the Lauwersmeer nature reserve would gradually turn L S massesW of these pretty flowers can be found along the I W FO HEIR R LAGE be recognised by its black neck and white face. This into a forest. This is why big grazers have been put out roadsides at Lauwersmeer. goose nests at Spitsbergen, but many thousands of to graze there. The Konik horse in particular is a real them spend the winter at Lauwersmeer. During the brushcutter. Thanks to their grazing activities, these spring and autumn migrations, you can see up to animals - in collaboration with Scottish Highland cattle 30,000 barnacle geese a day flying overhead. A most - help to keep the reserve open and free of trees. impressive sight! THE WADDEN SEA: A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE LAUWERSMEER NATIONAL PARK Unesco World Heritage Site The Wadden Sea is one of the world’s last tidal regions and a Lauwersmeer National Park is an area renowned for its birdlife, where unique foraging area for birds and seals. You can book a ‘seal trip’ to watch these animals in their natural habitat. Or put on a pair of stout wellies, go for a walk along the mud flats ornithologists can sit in the hides and watch the many thousands of migrants with a guide and experience the silence. Or would you rather look for benthic animals and waders, and where the magnificent white-tailed eagle is the jewel in the (bottom-dwellers) on the Engelsmanplaat sandbank? Or watch seals being released? crown. Nature lovers will have the time of their lives in this new wildnerness, You can do all these things at the Wadden Sea! www.waddenland.groningen.nl/en with rare flowers like orchids and bog stars growing on what used to be the SCHIERMONNIKOOG NATIONAL PARK sea bed, and Scottish Highland cattle and Konik horses grazing on the plains. The island of Schiermonnikoog has an extensive dune system with a very special This is a unique area which is easy to explore thanks to an extensive network atmosphere and its own flora and fauna. You can get there by ferry from Lauwersoog of walking and cycle routes - or by water if you prefer. But that is not all. harbour. The Rottum and Monnik ferry boats run every day, and you can take your bike along for a lovely day’s cycling and that unique island feeling. The island is also accessible Visitors can go kitesurfing, windsurfing and boating or just laze around on by catamaran from Oostmahorn. the beaches. There are enjoyable and educational activities for adults and An information office is located at Lauwersoog harbour (Het Informatie Paviljoen, HIP). children alike, with the wild Wadden Sea, a Unesco World Heritage Site, Hosts and hostesses welcome visitors there and give them information on the background on the other side of the dyke. You can set out in a boat from Lauwersoog and the available options in the wide open spaces at Lauwersmeer National Park, Schiermonnikoog National Park and Unesco World Heritage Site The Wadden Sea. and collect oysters, spot seals or walk along the mud flats. Or enjoy some sustainably-caught fish in Lauwersoog or Zoutkamp. And Schiermonnikoog National Park is only 45 minutes away by boat too. Three magnificent nature reserves at such a short distance from each other... that’s really something! And they really are amazingly close together.

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE DECK PATH FISHING WALKS The fact that a pair of white-tailed eagles are residing at Lauwersmeer A floating deck path with an exciting place for a picnic runs There is plenty of water to fish in at Lauwersmeer nature reserve! Bream and You can go on long walks through the rugged landscape at Lauwersmeer National Park is a tremendous compliment for the area! These magnificent between Lauwersoog village and the harbour. If you sit on roach are the commonest species, but you can also catch pike perch there. If you National Park. Leave your car at one of the car parks and go and experience birds succeeded in hatching and raising one juvenile in 2011 too. This the picnic bench, you are actually suspended over the water prefer to fish from a boat, there are fishing spots at the Zoutkamperril or the adventure on foot! The signposted routes vary from 2 to 7.5 kilometres, and raptor is nicknamed ‘the flying door’ and you can see why if you visit the and you can watch all the water birds and dragonflies - and deeper waters at the Slenk, and there are free slipways on Strandweg along the the names tell you what you may expect to see there, e.g. Hooglanderroute Vlinderbalg, where there is a life-size picture of the white-tailed eagle on a bats on the hunt in the evenings. And there is an orchid Zoutkamperril as well. We advise you to wear waders if you plan to fish from the (Scottish Highland cattle), Konijnenroute (rabbits), Orchideeënpad (orchids) landmark made of weathering steel. window at the edge of the woods, at a spot where a lot of banks. Go to www.np-lauwersmeer.nl for the regulations and information on the or Vogelroute (birds). You can take your faithful canine companion on a orchids flower. This is a beautiful spot for you to take some necessary permits. fabulous walk here! There are signs all over the Lauwersmeer nature unique photos! reserve telling you where your dog can run free, where dogs have to be on the lead or where, regretfully, they are not allowed. You can find a BOAT TRIPS number of locations on the map too . The Dutch Forestry Commission If you enjoy boating most of all, you will be pleased to hear that there are four (Staatsbosbeheer) offers a large number of excursions that set off from marinas at Lauwersmeer: Lunegat in Dokkumer Nieuwe Zijlen, Jachthaven Lauwers­ De Bosschuur Activities Centre. You can go butterfly-spotting, or look for meer in Oostmahorn, Hunzegat in Zoutkamp and Noordergat at Lauwersoog. There Konik horses, spoonbills or bats. Go to the website (www.np-lauwersmeer.nl) is a 2,000-hectare lake with recreational piers and small islands where you can for a list of the available activities. moor your boat. You can take the Staande Mastroute (‘mast-up route’) and sail past Dokkum on the way to Leeuwarden, or past Groningen on the way to Delfzijl. And Duindoorn Route you can get to the Wadden Sea if you go through the Robbengatsluis lock. Marne Route Konijnen Route Nature Study Route Route for disabled people Diepsterbos Route Vogel Route Kiek over Diek cycle route

G E D A W HET BOOZE WIJF MUSEUM MARINA P A number of authentic ships are on display and waiting to be admired at the D KWAST ALLAR WEG Museum Marina. There are various walking routes that start from the café there Wadden Sea EDIJK and you can book a seal trip, a safari in a Land Rover or a spectacular trip in a SCHIERMONNIKOOG OUDEZE FERRY SERVICE rescue boat. And there is an educational water playground there as well where you

- K R J can have a great time splashing about! www.beleeflauwersoog.nl E I T D S K I K J - E U I W S P S KITESURFINGT AND SWIMMING D NT W A BA EG A Hoek van Bant is a very popular place to go kitesurfing. Beginners can H C K S US T- RIETZUIVERING learn inside the dykes, while more advanced kitesurfers can try their luck t K r J Po EN outside. There are training courses available for everyone who would like to I Fe rry AV D - H N E E HOEK E THE INFORMATION G Z D E

have a go at this spectacular sport. Or would you rather swim or sunbathe? E VAN BANT OFFICE (HIP) U W D O WEG G R U E E If so, there are several small sandy beaches situated along Strandweg and O T W S WIER K HUISTER PIETERUREN J - NOORDERGAT at the two bungalow parks Esonstad and Suyderoogh. I WESTERNIELAN CYCLING LAUWERSOO D YACHT HARBOUR D. ASTR. I HO W I ENG Go on an extensive cycle trip through beautiful countryside, where you can see all E OFD- ER W G ST W R E A A A T D W kinds of birds, unusual vegetation and spectacular views across the water. It is D A BANTPOLDER N E . M A N E W W quite likely that you will come across Scottish Highland cattle or Konik horses too. R W WEI S D E R JISTER T S E R E D T R G E T A E N G R E S D F N The Lauwersveer, a ferryboat powered by solar energy, runs between Het Booze - E IE L D W A ROEK N R

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UG S R U B Unfortunately, Lauwersmeer National Park is less suitable for horses G E A W ATIITIES ENTRE E P K R I W KLOOSTERUREN S R P E E E W E W OMMELAND N O S

R T and their riders or drivers. But a lovely track for riding or driving . B Kiek over Diek is a 90-kilometre cycle track that takes you along the coast from KRUISWE . ER B E G R W W . Lauwersoog to Nieuwe Statenzijl. You can enjoy spectacular views of Unesco World B N horses has been laid out in the Marnewaard military training ground E G G r E E O R. S U De Kolken W G G G IE R a W G J E L E u a R l K E Heritage Site The Wadden Sea and the beautiful Groningen countryside inside T right next door. And the Paardensport De Marne equestrian sports ia I ST A n m RN W a N r HO E T t N e I o U t A foundation regularly organises trips through the area. K c the dykes on your way. There are several tourist reference points (Toeristische s

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