Vogelkijkhut De Kiekkaaste
Bird and seal watching outside the dyke
The water undulates over the mud while birds peck at their food. A magnificent view of this agile nature can be had from vogelkijkhut De Kiekkaaste near Nieuwe Statenzijl. This is the only Dutch bird hide outside the dykes.
Border area between fresh and salt water
At Nieuwe Statenzijl in eastern Groningen, the sea dyke stops. On the border between the Netherlands and Germany, the tidal river Eems flows into the Wadden Sea. Fresh and salt water meet in this piece of UNESCO World Heritage Site. This creates a special landscape with plants, birds, fish and other animals that live nowhere else in the Wadden Sea. From the bird-watching cabin, you can see how water and land merge and how the salt marsh is regularly flooded. On the mudflats of the Dollard, hundreds of dunlin gather. Also regularly spotted: fraters, seals and porpoises.
Boots on, binoculars with you
For the fantastic view from The Kiekkaaste, you have to make an effort. From the dyke, it is a 15-minute walk. The path to the bird hide can be quite muddy. Moreover, if the wind is very strong, it is better to do something else. Ready for the walk? Don't forget your binoculars and brave that blubber. The horizon filled with countless breeding and migratory birds is more than worth it.
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