Right on the edge of the Wadden Sea lies National Park Lauwersmeer. A place teeming with biodiversity, where the walking opportunities are endless and you can find peace and quiet in the stillness – whether on your own or with others. Why not take the children along for a change? Start at activiteitencentrum Lauwersnest, walk into the woods and climb one of the birdwatching towers. Stunning views guaranteed. Forest ranger Jaap Kloosterhuis will take you on a day’s tour of the area and give you a taste of what to expect on your visit.
All around you nature, silence. Walking shoes on, binoculars around your neck. You're actually not that much different from forest ranger Jaap Kloosterhuis. He welcomes you at activity centre Lauwersnest, the beating educational heart of National Park Lauwersmeer. A base. With all kinds of info in text and images about the rich environment. Inside, you look up against a high wall on which countless birds are highlighted. The area is therefore one of the hubs of global bird migration. ''The striking thing is that the smallest birds make the biggest journeys,'' says Jaap. ''All the way from Africa and back again.'' Alex (10) and Luca (13) are amazed and peer upwards. With their minds in the clouds, near the birds.
A little further to the left, part of the universe is depicted against a dark blue wall. This is because National Park Lauwersmeer is also an official Dark Sky Park. A place where it is really dark in the evening and at night. Where, on a clear day, you can see the Milky Way with your own eyes and point out constellations. Want to go into the darkness too? Then download the new night map for your light in the darkness here.
Up the paths, into the woods
A large wooden box hangs on the outside of the building. Filled with maps about birds, walks and other attractions. Today we walk the Beleefpad, a child-friendly 1.4-kilometre route through the wooded area located behind the Lauwersnest. The booklet is full of fun assignments and facts. Hup, onto the paths, into the woods. The walking shoes come in handy now. And there is plenty to see. The first pond is right behind you and after a short walk across the dike you reach the second one. There, the first frog is spotted. Jaap quickly catches it and gently hands it to Luca. ''Just grab it gently by the hind legs, then it will sit quietly.'' No sooner said than done. The frog changes hands and Alex takes a look at his big brother. There is a token kiss, but a princess remains out.
“ "Surrounded by nature and tranquillity" ”
A little further on, they move into the thicket. On the right, bright orange berries catch the eye. ''These are the familiar buckthorn bushes,'' Jaap explains. ''Striking in colour, but also in taste. They look a bit like sour tangerines.'' Everyone takes the test. Berry by berry disappears into the mouths. After the first chew, the faces leave. From smiles to frowns. From sweet to sour. This doesn't really taste like more, ''but some birds love it. At some point, the sugars in the berries are converted to alcohol. And if the birds eat enough of it, they can even get drunk. I once saw two pieces tipsy next to the bushes,'' Jaap jokes.
The warm autumn sun shines through the foliage. More and more you are surrounded by trees. The boys grab the Experience Path booklet. Somewhere in the forest should be an owl. This one is soon spotted. But it stays very still. So it doesn't have any real feathers. A little further on, they come across the first mushrooms. Some are somewhat hidden, others are easy to spot. However beautiful they are, I would leave them where they are. Some are life-threatening. Just get them in the supermarket or at the market," explains Jaap. Nodding heads all around.
“ "The warm autumn sun glistens through the foliage" ”
Peace and quiet
In an area rich in birds, it naturally pays to spot birds. And where better to do so than at high altitude? So today's last stop is bird-watching tower the Vlinderbalg. A place to watch birds and stars. For it is also a celestial platform, a place where you can lie down in the dark and gaze endlessly at the stars. But this afternoon, the sun is shining. With so many birds flying around your ears: where exactly should you look for it? Fortunately, the bird map will help you a long way. Full of info on birds, some rarer than others. From the barnacle goose to the snipe and the magnificent white-tailed eagle. Spotting blown. Forest ranger, grandpa and grandson point their binoculars at the horizon. Looking at all the beauty the Lauwersmeer area has to offer.
“ ‘A peaceful village where it’s still truly quiet’ ”
