Have you ever experienced true darkness? A moment when it was so dark that you couldn't tell the top from the bottom? When the weather was clear, you could see the Milky Way? There are few places where you can experience this, where it gets really dark at night.One such place is Dark Sky Park Lauwersmeer, a beautiful nature reserve that you can explore on your own or with the help of a forest ranger. In daylight or - preferably - in the dead of night. Forester Jaap Kloosterhuis takes you into the darkness for a nocturnal walk in the woods with the lights off.
VIDEO: Chatting with forest ranger Jaap
Anyone who thinks the Lauwersmeer area sleeps at night is wrong. The area has a vibrant nightlife! The Dark Sky Park is an area where it is dark, where darkness is preserved and where visitors are welcome to experience that darkness at night. This is extra special in this area because the Netherlands is one of the countries with the most light pollution in the world.
So dark you can see everything
You can see more in the dark than you think. Your eyes just need to get used to the darkness. After about 20 minutes, your eyes start to get used to it and you notice that you can see more and more. "Just don't look at your phone or use a torch then, because you'll be back to square one," says ranger Jaap as he disappears further and further into the dark forest.
An audio tour under the stars
Suddenly Jaap pauses at an open stretch. "If it's clear, I can point out all kinds of constellations from here," he says promisingly. But a glance up makes one realise that, unfortunately, that is not in the cards tonight, and since the use of a torch is not allowed, few wild nocturnal animals are expected to be spotted either. "Because you see little, you hear all the more - geese flying overhead. Cows mooing. "At night, you hear different sounds than during the day. I can understand why people used to believe in ghosts. You hear a lot of sounds here that you can't quite place at home. Your imagination then starts to fill in the blanks. A screeching fox then suddenly becomes an evil witch."
A dark message
Nighttime artificial light can affect the life cycle and behaviour of animals in many ways. "Our aim is therefore to reduce the amount of artificial light. Artificial light is convenient, but unnecessary artificial light is undesirable. We still have quite a way to go in this regard. As long as people associate dark and scary with each other, they will not be motivated to use less artificial light. By spreading this message, we hope to also make politicians aware of the value of darkness." If you want to contribute to a dark environment yourself, aim the outdoor lights around your house downwards in such a way that it does not illuminate the rest of the surroundings.
To the stars
Autumn is the ideal time for a walk through the Dark Sky Park, it gets dark reasonably early and it's not too cold yet. Other than that, you need to be lucky. Of course, it is best when the weather is clear, so you can see the stars and the moon well. Going out in the area yourself? Then download the night map. With this map, you can easily make a beautiful walk under the stars yourself. For example, you can quickly see where to find sky platforms, viewpoints and observation towers. Places from where you can see the stars even better. The map is also full of facts about the night in the Dark Sky Park and tells you more about the constellations you can admire from the area each season. Prefer to go out together? Several times a year, the Forestry Commission organises a starry or full moon excursion. Keep an eye on the National Park's activity calendar for these.
