Route 23: Slangenborg Sellingen

Dogs are not permitted on this route.
The walk takes you through a varied landscape of small woods, hedgerows, meadows and fields, and it is largely thanks to the determination of the
Sellingers that we can still enjoy it today. The ‘Kikkert’ plan, in the early 1970s, had earmarked 6,000 hectares of this area for a military training ground. Fortunately, the plan was scrapped.

A special feature of this tour is the reed filter ponds, a good Dutch term for helophyte filters (from point 14). Reeds, rushes and other aquatic plants grow here, which absorb a great deal of nutrients from the water, thereby filtering it. The cleaner water benefits the natural environment in the Holle Beetse Vennekampen area. Many plant species – particularly the more unusual ones – struggle to tolerate the nutrient-rich water from the Ruiten Aa Canal or are outcompeted by nutrient-loving, more common species. The canal discharges nutrient-rich agricultural water and, in dry periods, brings in equally nutrient-rich water from Friesland and the IJsselmeer. Staatsbosbeheer, the organisation responsible for managing this area, faced a dilemma: allow nutrient-rich water into the area or keep the sluice closed and let the area dry out for part of the year. The reed filter ponds offer a (partial) solution. During construction, a clay wall was built to provide shelter for sand martins. They dig tunnels 50 to 60 cm deep into the clay wall and build a safe nest at the end of the tunnel. They skim across the ponds with their beaks open; there are plenty of insects.

Another special feature is that the walk takes you through the natuurbegraafplaats Laude , situated on the Ruiten Aa canal (points 20–32). The natural cemetery forms part of a 60-hectare nature reserve and covers an area of approximately 12 hectares where burials are permitted. An old tributary of the Eems used to flow here; nowadays, you’ll find varied countryside with higher and lower-lying areas and a mix of old and young woodland: deciduous forest with old oaks and ash trees, hawthorn, beech and Spanish oak. A variety of bird species can also be found here. In the mature woodland, these include the redstart, common buzzard, nuthatch and hawfinch; in the younger woodland, the chiffchaff, wren and robin.

The proceeds from the natural burial ground go directly towards the management of nature in this area.

Any comments on the route? Let us know via the contact form

This is a route of the Walking in Westerwolde Foundation, sponsored by Herberg Sellingen and Natuurbegraafplaats Laude.

Herberg Sellingen, (hotel, restaurant, pizzera, bar, cafe), Dorpsstraat 37, 9551 AC Sellingen, tel 0599-322285, Whatsapp 06_42394876, info@herbergsellingen.nl, www.herbergsellingen.nl

Natuurbegraafplaats Laude, Ruiten A Kanaal Oost IV2, 9551 XH Sellingen, tel 0599-749000, info@natuurbegraafplaatslaude.nl, www.natuurbegraafplaats.nl.