Cycling through the Dutch jungle.
Since the cane cutters disappeared about 100 years ago, the area around Lake Naarder is full of forest. And this is not just any forest. There are no trails and the forest managers rarely come there. And because there is no maintenance, a kind of primeval forest has developed. In other words, here you find yourself in a real Dutch jungle! High moorland is developing in the forest, giving it a swampy and ghostly appearance in some places.
In 1905, Natuurmonumenten bought the area for 155,000 Guldens. Since then, the Naardermeer has been a protected area, making it the first protected nature reserve in the Netherlands. However, the meadows in the area are well maintained. Since the 1980s, Galloway cows, imported from Scotland, have been grazing there. These cows counteract the overgrowth on the meadows. In addition, they plow the land with their paws, making it an ideal place for many insects and rodents to live. These in turn are a tasty snack for many birds of prey, reptiles and small mammals. Thus a natural balance is created for us humans to enjoy again!