The Naardermeer lake is a unique protected nature reserve and one of the few natural lakes in our country. Countless rare birds, amphibians and mammals reside in this 1180 ha. large area with open lakes, swamp forests, reed lands with quaking moors and meadows.
In 1905 they wanted to fill the lake with household waste from Amsterdam, but Jac. P. Thijsse puts a stop to it. He founded Natuurmonumenten, which saved the Naardermeer from destruction by purchasing it and setting it up as a nature reserve.
The Naar…
The Naardermeer lake is a unique protected nature reserve and one of the few natural lakes in our country. Countless rare birds, amphibians and mammals reside in this 1180 ha. large area with open lakes, swamp forests, reed lands with quaking moors and meadows.
In 1905 they wanted to fill the lake with household waste from Amsterdam, but Jac. P. Thijsse puts a stop to it. He founded Natuurmonumenten, which saved the Naardermeer from destruction by purchasing it and setting it up as a nature reserve.
The Naardermeer is an ideal place for a boat trip, walk or bike ride. Gasterij Stadzigt with restaurant and a country shop with regional products is a good base for this (Meerkade 2a, Naarden). Due to the unique nature, dogs are unfortunately not allowed in this area.
Sailing on the Naardermeer
Board the fluisterboot (whisper boat) at Gasterij Stadzigt and discover the untouched nature of the Naardermeer. Various thematic tours depart from here, such as a cormorant boat trip, a family trip or a photography boat trip. From June to November, boat trips are also organized to the Kooilust duck decoy, where ducks used to be caught for consumption using a special method. Reservations can be made via www.natuurmonumenten.nl.
Walking and cycling around the Naardermeer
Around the Naardermeer you can enjoy walking and cycling on paths and polder roads. Take a beautiful 17 km walk around the Naardermeer. Or follow the shorter walk on the Laarzenpad and cross the swamp forest via the Knuppelpad.
Bird watching at the Naardermeer
There are no fewer than five viewpoints around or in the Naardermeer, from which you can spot birds and enjoy the special flora and fauna. Sail with the ranger to the hide in the middle of the cormorant colony. On the west side of the Naardermeer is a well-known 'bird hotspot', the Hilversumse Bovenmeent polder. Bird lovers come from far and wide to these shallow pools to spot egrets, spoonbills and other rare bird species from the polder roads and viewing screen.
Windmill De Onrust
The water level in the Naardermeer has been regulated by windmill De Onrust since 1809. Volunteer millers keep the mill running, so that this nature reserve is maintained with natural power, without an electric pumping station. There are information boards at the mill explaining how the drainage works.
Tip: View places in the Naardermeer that are normally hardly accessible and download the 360 App from Natuurmonumenten. This tour with 360º images takes you to the heart of the colony of breeding cormorants and to the rich underwater world of the Naardermeer.