Lauwersmeer National Park

In earlier times, fresh and salt water flowed together in the Lauwerszee. Fear of flooding led to the construction of a dam in 1969. A beautiful new landscape emerged on the former seabed, a true bird paradise. The nature in the Lauwersmeer is so unique that the area has been designated a National Park. Visitors are welcome day and night.

The Lauwerszee used to be part of the Wadden Sea. After the flood disaster in 1953, it was decided to close this estuary in 1969 for fear of further flooding. The salty Lauwerszee became the sweet Lauwersmeer. Initially, this closure led to a desolate area: all marine animals died and an enormous stench spread for many kilometers around the Lauwersmeer. But soon the first plants and animals settled in this new area. Over the years, the number of species increased rapidly and a beautifully varied landscape emerged. In less than fifty years, nature has transformed the Lauwersmeer area into a beautiful and biodiverse nature reserve, which has been recognized as a National Park since 2003.

The Lauwersnest Activity Center is a great start for your visit to the National Park.

The Lauwersmeer National Park is located in the north of the Netherlands, on the border of the provinces of Groningen and Friesland. The area was declared a national park on November 12, 2003 and covers 9000 hectares, of which around 6000 hectares are under the Dutch National Forest Service. Source: Wikipedia