Zuid-Kennemerland National Park
| National Park Zuid-Kennemerland | |
|---|---|
| Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland | |
|
IUCN category II (national park) | |
|
Dunes in Zuid-Kennemerland National Park | |
 Map of the national park | |
| Location | North Holland, Netherlands |
| Nearest city | Haarlem |
| Coordinates | 52°25′N 4°35′E / 52.417°N 4.583°ECoordinates: 52°25′N 4°35′E / 52.417°N 4.583°E |
| Area | 3,800 ha (9,400 acres)[1] |
| Established | 1995[1] |
| Visitors | 1.8 million[2] (in 2008) |
| http://www.np-zuidkennemerland.nl | |
National Park Zuid-Kennemerland (Dutch: Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland) is a national park in the province of North Holland in the Netherlands and was established in 1995.
History
Dutch conservationist Jac. P. Thijsse first wrote about a possible national park between Bloemendaal and the North Sea Canal in 1944. As a result, the national park De Kennemerduinen was established in 1950.[3]
The national park Zuid-Kennemerland was established in 1995. It comprised De Kennemerduinen, several nature reserves managed by Vereniging Natuurmonumenten and some other areas.[3]
Geography
The park is situated west of Haarlem in the province of North Holland in the west of the Netherlands. It is located within the municipalities of Bloemendaal, Velsen, and Zandvoort. It includes the southern portion of the region known as Kennemerland.
South Kennemerland is characterized by sand dunes. The park, about 38 square kilometres (15 sq mi) in size, also includes some estates, forests on the dune fringes, and coastal beaches. The dunes used to be a watershed for the city of Haarlem. Large amounts have been won for consumption. In 2003 these activities were ceased allowing the groundwater-bubble to grow again. There is a small public swimming area open in the summer at a location called the Wed on the road between Bloemendaal and Zandvoort. The train from Zandvoort to Amsterdam travels through the park.
Management
The park is owned and managed collectively by Vereniging Natuurmonumenten (Natural Monuments Association), Staatsbosbeheer (State Forestry), PWN (Water Supply Company North Holland), Province of Noord-Holland , IVN, and the surrounding municipalities and private owners.
Visitors
In 2008, the park had 1.8 million visitors.[2]
The visitors centre is located in at Zeeweg 12 in Overveen, called De Kennemerduinen, next to parking Koevlak.
Biology
Flora
The dunes are rich in lime, allowing the growth of several plant species which are rare in the Netherlands. The inland dunes are covered with bacciferous shrubs attracting a variety of songbirds.
About 800 different plant species that grow in the dune area of South Kennemerland are displayed in Thijsse's Hof (Garden of Thijsse), in Bloemendaal. This wildlife garden was founded in 1925 and is the oldest in the Netherlands.
Fauna
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Over 100 bird species have been observed.
The mammals fallow deer, roe deer, squirrel, West European hedgehog, European rabbit, red fox live in the park.
Besides Highland cattle, Shetland pony, and Koniks, an experiment was started in spring 2007 by releasing a small number of wisents. These European bison could be dangerous to people and therefore were released in an area not publicly accessible. The wisents may be observed from a purpose-built viewing platform, a walking path (closed between 1 March and 1 September and during excursions)
Nearly 20 butterfly species have been observed.
References
- 1 2 National Park Zuid-Kennemerland, National Park Zuid-Kennemerland. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- 1 2 Recreatieonderzoek Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland (in Dutch), National Park Zuid-Kennemerland. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- 1 2 Hans Schmit, "Duingebied bij IJmuiden nu zevende nationale park" (in Dutch), Trouw, 1995. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zuid-Kennemerland. |
- (Dutch) Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland, official website