Overview
As well as a Special Protection Area and Ramsar Site, the Naardermeer is a strictly protected nature reserve.
Long regarded as an important area for birds, there has been a reserve here since 1906 and today this covers a range of habitats including lakes, pools and canals, reedbeds, willow thickets and swamp forest. Many of the bodies of water are the result of peat digging.
Birds
Notable Species
Although the Naardermeer reserve was best known for its Eurasian Spoonbill colony these birds relocated to Flevoland in the late 1980s. However, there are many other waterbirds at the Naardermeer including both bitterns, Purple Heron, Garganey and Black Tern. Red-crested Pochard was once regular but has since declined and is now scarce but Great White Egret is increasing.
Marsh Harrier and Northern Hobby are among the raptors present in summer.
The reedbeds are home to warblers including Savi's Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler and Great Reed Warbler as well as Bearded Tit.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Great Bittern, Little Bittern, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Common Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Garganey, Common Pochard, Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, Northern Hobby, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Ringed Plover, Eurasian Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Little Stint, Dunlin, Ruff, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Little Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Black Tern, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Cuckoo, Common Swift, Eurasian Skylark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Northern House Martin, Blue-headed Wagtail, White Wagtail, Common Wren, Dunnock, Eurasian Robin, White-spotted Bluethroat, European Stonechat, Eurasian Blackbird, Song Thrush, Savi's Warbler, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Common Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Bearded Tit, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Reed Bunting
Other Wildlife
To do
Site Information
History and Use
To do
Areas of Interest
To do
Access and Facilities
The Naardermeer is situated about 16km to the east of Amsterdam and lies beside the Amsterdam-Bussum railway.
Unlike many Dutch reserves the Naardermeer cannot be viewed from local roads and a so a permit is necessary. These are available from Natuurmonumenten, Schaep en Burgh, NL-1243 JJ Graveland, Netherlands (Tel. 35 655 9933). Permits must be booked well in advance and applications should give the numbers of visitors, dates required and also alternative dates.
To reach the reserve take the A1 east out of Amsterdam and leave it on the Muiderberg exit. Take the road to the right running parallel to the A1 and turn right after 1km.
Contact Details
Vereniging Natuurmonumenten Beheereenheid Gooi - en Vechtstreek Cannenburgerweg 63 a 1244 RH Ankeveen Tel: 035-6951840
External Links
Natuurgebled Naardermeer, English translation
Content and images originally posted by Steve
Reviews
Carlos GY's review
OK, firstly ... this is a Superb place !
I'm a little curious where all that permit is necessary (above) comes from. I found there to be a cycle/foot path leading around the outskirts of the reserve, with a couple of footpaths leading to at least 2 hides (there may be a 3rd i didn't get to) and 1 viewing screen. There are cycle rails and picnic tables near the path to the screen and one of the hides, and several people making use of them.
Excellent area also for cycling, walking, etc and meeting some of the very friendly dutch people.
Top birds, all easy, on one day in early May : 3 Bluethroat, c20 Spoonbill, 3 Hobby, 2 White Stork, 1 Great Egret, c4 Corncrake, 3 Purple Heron, 1 Garganey, and nearby at Ankeveensche plassen 5+ Grasshopper Warbler.
Pros
- Lots of good birds
- friendly people
- lovely peaceful countryside
Cons
- None
