Knar
Just a wingspan away from Amsterdam, between Almere and Lelystad, lies a vast and surprising natural area: Nieuw Land National Park. A varied, water-rich landscape that is constantly changing. Space for young delta nature forms the foundation for a true bird paradise: rare bird species feel at home here, and species that once disappeared from the Netherlands have returned. Nieuw Land National Park tells the typical story of land reclaimed from water, how the impoldering of the Zuiderzee created both new land and new nature. No other national park in or outside the Netherlands tells such a story.
Every visit is different, but always an experience.
Welcome in Flevoland
New Land, land created by human hands in the mid-20th century, where once the seabed once lay. The concept of makeability is embedded in the DNA of the Netherlands’ youngest province. Everything in Flevoland seems new and designed. But is it really? Can nature be directed or does it color in the spaces humans have created?
Flevoland's unique origins have led to equally unique natural landscapes. Natural processes behave differently on our fertile clay soils than in other parts of the country. The province of Flevoland takes pride in its new land and the new nature that has sometimes emerged spontaneously, and sometimes with human help. That’s why the province is actively involved in preserving and enhancing these special environments. As a proud partner of National Park Nieuw Land, Flevoland also helps ensure that nature becomes more accessible and enjoyable for more people, but always with care. We aim to provide experiences where nature can handle it, to assist where nature needs support and to protect and leave undisturbed where nature is vulnerable.These are the core principles of the National Park Nieuw Land partnership.
Enjoy all the beauty that has emerged from this interaction between humans and nature in Flevoland!
Unique Man-Made
New nature on former seabed
National Park Nieuw Land owes its existence to the world’s largest land reclamation project: the creation of Flevoland! The many canals, dikes, sluices, and pumping stations remind us how humans successfully conquered the water to create new land. These iconic constructions still keep the feet of Flevolanders dry, even though they live on a former seabed, an average of five meters below sea level (NAP).
Although National Park Nieuw Land wouldn’t exist without human intervention, nature often decides how this new land evolves. The Oostvaardersplassen formed when large pools of water remained in a low-lying area originally intended for industry. The Lepelaarplassen were created by sand extraction during the construction of the Oostvaardersdijk. Marshlands developed at both sites, attracting many bird species. With the creation of the Marker Wadden and Oostvaardersoevers, a new phase of nature development began, focusing on ecological resilience and the connection between nature reserves.
Multifunctional Titan
Knardijk
When Eastern Flevoland was reclaimed, the Knardijk initially served as a direct water barrier. However, after the reclamation of Southern Flevoland, the dike lost this function and now serves primarily as a water-retaining buffer. The Knardijk can temporarily keep part of Flevoland dry, buying valuable time to organize an evacuation. What a titan!
In addition to its water-retaining role, the dike offers stunning panoramic views over the vast surrounding landscape thanks to its elevated position. It also makes the history of Flevoland — land wrestled from the water — tangible and visible. Part of the dike lies within National Park Nieuw Land. If you walk or cycle along the dike from the park toward Zeewolde, you can still see the outlines of the former harbor, once used to transport materials for the land reclamation project.
For nature, the dike serves as a welcoming green corridor stretching 18 kilometers through the polder landscape. It provides habitat for various plant and animal species that use the Knardijk to move between feeding and living areas, such as the Randmeren and the Markermeer. The dike thus contributes to the region’s biodiversity and is part of the Dutch National Nature Network (NNN).
Characteristic
Marsh Harrier
If there is one bird that is truly characteristic of Flevoland, it’s the marsh harrier. The logo of the Province of Flevoland features an abstract depiction of this bird of prey and you’ll also spot it as a proud sticker on many local cars.
The marsh harrier became a symbol of Flevoland because after the reclamation of Southern Flevoland in 1968, its population increased significantly after having nearly disappeared. Large parts of the polder were sown with reeds, creating ideal feeding and breeding grounds for the bird.
The marsh harrier glides low with slow wingbeats, sometimes hovering and circling above reed beds and rough grasslands in search of prey. This prey includes young birds (chicks), mice, eggs, and frogs. Further along, between the Lage Vaart and the A6 motorway, Staatsbosbeheer has designated specific areas as feeding grounds for the harrier. Alternating herb-rich grasslands with strips of grain fields creates a varied landscape in which mice thrive and harriers love mice.
