European award for Weerribben-Wieden

OSSENZIJL – National Park Weerribben-Wieden in Northwest Overijssel has been awarded the designation of a sustainable tourism destination in a protected area. The park is now the first one in the Netherlands to fully meet European guidelines for such a designation. The government agency Staatsbosbeheer is one of the managers of the park. Originally, the park consisted of two separate nature reserves, both with roots in abandoned peatbogs. Nature reserve De Wieden centred around eroded peatbogs which over time had formed into vast inland lakes, swallowing homes, churches and even villages during vicious storms.