Oosterschelde National Park

Oosterschelde National Park
Location:	Zeeland , Netherlands
Next city:	Zierikzee
Surface:	approx. 37,000 ha
Founding:	2002
Address:	Klein Frankrijk 1 ; NL-4461 ZN te Goes
	National park map
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The Oosterschelde National Park is a maritime nature park in the Dutch province of Zeeland . It was established on May 8, 2002 and, with an area of around 37,000 hectares, is the largest of the 21 national parks in the European part of the country. The area extends over the entire area of the Oosterschelde , an arm of the sea in the delta of the rivers Rhine , Maas and Scheldt , as well as the bank areas of the adjacent islands and peninsulas.

history

Storm weir Oosterscheldekering

After the catastrophic Holland storm flood of 1953 , plans began in 1957 for the construction of the Delta Works , which should help prevent such floods in the future. The original plan was to also completely dike the estuary of the Oosterschelde. However, due to protests, in particular by the Oosterschelde Open action group and by local seafarers who feared for their traditional fishing grounds, this was finally rejected. Instead, a classic barrier dike was built over a few kilometers and the Oosterscheldekering storm surge barrier was built between the islands of Schouwen-Duiveland and Noord-Beveland . The weir can be closed to protect against storm surges, but the gates are open at any other time and allow the continued influence of ebb and flow on the Oosterschelde.

On February 25, 1999, the Dutch State Secretary for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality set up an expert commission to develop a concept for the establishment of the national park. Three years later, in May 2002, the Oosterschelde was officially designated as a National Park of the Netherlands.

fauna

After the Oosterscheldekering went into operation, the intensity of the tides decreased by about a quarter. As a result, animal species that originally inhabited the inlet disappeared and were replaced over time by other species that could cope better with the changed conditions.

Due to the mixing of salt and fresh water, the local fauna is nevertheless correspondingly varied today. Large marine mammals such as seals and porpoises are found in the national park. Furthermore, fish species such as bullhead , anchovy , plaice and pike live in the area . Also pipefish and soles occur here. Diverse species of invertebrates also inhabit the area, including oysters , crabs , crayfish , cuttlefish and shrimp . The Avifauna is inter alia by herring gulls , Grebe , Kormorane , Plover and means Sawyer represents. Waders such as oystercatchers , avocets and redshanks breed in the park, as do the common gulls , the silver and black-headed gulls .

Sepia in the Oosterschelde
Crab caught in the national park
Seals are again more common in the national park
Avocets breed in the park, along with many other species
Harbor porpoises can be seen in the national park

freetime and recreation

The visitor center of the Oosterschelde National Park is located on the former sandbank Neeltje Jans . From there, various marsh and mudflat hikes and boat tours start, on which the harbor porpoises and seals living in the inlet can be observed.

The national park is a popular destination for diving. The visibility under water is very good for North Sea conditions and is between 5 and 16 meters, depending on the weather conditions.

Web links

Commons : Oosterschelde National Park - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Wikivoyage: Oosterschelde National Park - travel guide

National park website

Individual evidence

↑ Landschapsatlas van de Oosterschelde. In: Zeeland Geboekt. December 7, 2017, accessed June 15, 2018 (Dutch).
↑ Beter ten halve gekeerd - Other Tijden. Retrieved June 15, 2018 (Dutch).
^ Rijkswaterstaat: Oosterscheldekering. Retrieved June 15, 2018 (Dutch).
^ Rina Bout, Hans van Geesbergen: Informatiebulletin Nationaal Park Oosterschelde . No. 1 , December 2001, p. 1 ( zeelandnet.nl [PDF]).
↑ De Oosterschelde na de afsluiting. Retrieved June 15, 2018 (Dutch).
↑ Thanks Jan Oreel, Chiel Jacobusse, Inez Flameling, Harry Holsteijn: Ontdek de Oosterschelde! IVN Consultenschap Zeeland, accessed on June 15, 2018 (Dutch).
↑ The Oosterschelde National Park. Holland.com, December 1, 2011, accessed June 15, 2018 .
^ Vogels - National Park Oosterschelde. Nationaal Park Oosterschelde, accessed June 15, 2018 (Dutch).
↑ Hans Reijke, Gerrit van Ommering: National parks in the Netherlands . Ed .: Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. January 2010, p. 34.35 .
↑ Diving in the Oosterschelde - Information> Activities - Informatie - Noord-Beveland Toerisme. Stichting Webportal Noord-Beveland, accessed on June 15, 2018 .

[1] Landschapsatlas van de Oosterschelde. In: Zeeland Geboekt. December 7, 2017, accessed June 15, 2018 (Dutch).

[2] Beter ten halve gekeerd - Other Tijden. Retrieved June 15, 2018 (Dutch).

[3] Rijkswaterstaat: Oosterscheldekering. Retrieved June 15, 2018 (Dutch).

[4] Rina Bout, Hans van Geesbergen: Informatiebulletin Nationaal Park Oosterschelde . No. 1 , December 2001, p. 1 ( zeelandnet.nl [PDF]).

[5] De Oosterschelde na de afsluiting. Retrieved June 15, 2018 (Dutch).

[6] Thanks Jan Oreel, Chiel Jacobusse, Inez Flameling, Harry Holsteijn: Ontdek de Oosterschelde! IVN Consultenschap Zeeland, accessed on June 15, 2018 (Dutch).

[7] The Oosterschelde National Park. Holland.com, December 1, 2011, accessed June 15, 2018 .

[8] Vogels - National Park Oosterschelde. Nationaal Park Oosterschelde, accessed June 15, 2018 (Dutch).

[9] Hans Reijke, Gerrit van Ommering: National parks in the Netherlands . Ed .: Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. January 2010, p. 34.35 .

[10] Diving in the Oosterschelde - Information> Activities - Informatie - Noord-Beveland Toerisme. Stichting Webportal Noord-Beveland, accessed on June 15, 2018 .