Holland: Flevoland and Texel
Internationally important birding areas
Holland has long had a well-deserved reputation as a great birding destination and, for many years, our short break in Texel has proved really popular. Last year we extended the tour to include Flevoland where modern, internationally important nature reserves ensure that contemporary wetland habitats compliment the traditional image of a landscape of reedbeds, swamps and water meadows. This was a great success and a formula which we will be repeating in 2008, improving it slightly by the addition of an extra night in Texel.
Our first base is in the old fishing town of Harderwijk, allowing excellent access to explore the polders of Flevoland. We'll visit the renowned Oostvaardersplassen reserve where we take a relaxed safari to enjoy the wealth of wildlife and learn how these young ecosystems are managed in a unique way. This new wetland nature reserve hosts Europe's largest and most northerly population of nesting Spoonbills. In Natuurmonumenten's De Wieden reserve we have a fascinating opportunity to experience the vibrant mood of a past landscape from the comfort of a modern "whispering boat" (so called because of the silence of its electric motor) which allows an intimate sense of these precious habitats. De Wieden is the largest unbroken area of peat moss in Western Europe and provides a haven for Bittern, Great Reed Warblers, Ruff and the elegant Black Tern, plus much more.
No natural history holiday in Holland is complete without experiencing Texel's wide range of accessible habitats. Known as Holland's "Bird Island", this delightful northern Dutch island with its charming villages, traditional farms, meadows, forests and dunes, has long been known for its bird populations. In May not only are the birds fantastic but the wild flowers add an extra dimension to the holiday. Orchids are commonplace, and there are wonderful meadows smothered in flowers and Avocet nests. During our stay we're based at the delightful Molenbos Hotel in the north of the island.
We have chosen the Dutch national airline, KLM, for our flights to Amsterdam's Schiphol airport which means that departure can be from most regional airports in the UK - an added bonus for those of you who live at a distance from the usual London hubs. We'll all meet up in Schiphol and travel by small bus to Flevoland for three nights and on to Texel for the rest of the holiday.
