There is hardly any swamp left in the Netherlands. Dikes and locks have the water under control everywhere. Here and there is a postage stamp with some reeds and a swamp bush. In the larger areas you sometimes come across a bittern. Purple herons only find sufficient space to breed in very large, wet nature reserves. Dozens of them breed in the Naardermeer and we went looking for them.
In the boat with forester Angelique Aerts of Natuurmonumenten we go through the ditches and onto the larger water. Nets are placed vertically in the water along reed beds. What are those for?
“Now that there are so many geese in the Netherlands, we have to protect the reeds. Geese eat the young reeds, which makes the reed collar smaller and smaller. The purple herons will soon no longer be able to find a place to make their nests,” explains Angelique.
A purple heron is the same size as a blue heron. It also eats fish, frogs and mice. As the name suggests, a purple heron is a bit purplish/pink in color. They are beautiful. But also very shy. It builds its nest hidden deep in colonies in the reeds. Thanks to the care of Natuurmonumenten, we see a few purple herons flying during our trip.
Flesh eating plant
When we go ashore, Angelique calls us to a field where the grass is short. “Look what you see here?” At first I don’t see much. Get on your knees then, with my nose between the plants. And then suddenly I see it: sundew!
“Sundew only grows in places where there is not enough food in the soil for other plants that grow tall. The minuscule sundew catches some food itself: flies that get stuck on the sticky droplets on its twigs. Now with nitrogen so much extra food rains on the land, we have to mow here and dispose of the clippings so that the sundew doesn’t become overgrown.” It is a beautiful plant that unfortunately is becoming increasingly rare. It is still growing in the Naardermeer. Natuurmonumenten organizes excursions so you can go and see for yourself.