Nice! On safari in Zoetermeer: ​​this is where your adventure starts

Museum De Voorde’s latest exhibition is about to premiere. ‘WILD in the city! On safari in Zoetermeer’ can be visited from 15 October. The title says it all: as a visitor you will discover all kinds of facts about the flora and fauna of Sweet Lake City in Museum De Voorde.

A lot lives, grows and blooms in Zoetermeer. Biodiversity is great. “But many people are not aware of this,” says Marjonne Kube, curator of Museum De Voorde. “During the exhibition you will find out that Zoetermeer has a lot of special flora and fauna. You see how nature has adapted to the city and vice versa. At the same time, we try to make people aware of how beautiful and vulnerable our nature is. We therefore also give tips on how you can do your bit to preserve this nature.”

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Image: Museum De Voorde

Fauna: from the Red American Crayfish to the Peregrine Falcon

‘What lives and blooms in Zoetermeer then?’, we hear you think. Chances are you didn’t know that the following animals live in Zoetermeer.

For example, did you know that the Red American Crayfish is an exotic resident of the city? Marjonne: “You can see this lobster walking around the Voorweg, for example. A good example of an animal that did not occur naturally here, but has managed to settle here over the years.” Another nice example is the peregrine falcon. “The fastest animal in the world just lives in our region! This falcon can reach a speed of 398 kilometers per hour during a dive.” In the exhibition you see a real stuffed peregrine falcon from Zoetermeer.

Flora: the iconic water lily

And in terms of flora, there is also plenty to discover around Zoetermeer. “We have always had an important connection with water in Zoetermeer. That is why the common white water lily has been incorporated into our city coat of arms. During the exhibition we also show beautiful, old objects in which the water lilies are engraved. Think, for example, of the buckle of the city’s watch commander.”

There is of course a lot to discover in Zoetermeer, but to keep the exhibition a bit clear, the focus is on nine animals and nine plants. You can do and discover all kinds of things around these animals and plants.

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hedgehog | Photo: Adri de Groot

Give tips

The exhibition is not only informative and entertaining. The aim is also to activate people to make their own environment a bit more environmentally friendly. You will receive all kinds of tips for this during the exhibition. Marjonne: “What you can do very easily yourself, for example, is to hang an insect hotel in your garden, which is pleasant for the bees and pollination, among other things. And you will also see a worm hotel during the exhibition. Earthworms are in abundance and very important for the fertility of the soil.”

PREVIEW The Election

To give you even more influence on the city, you can participate in ‘WILD in the city – The Election’ until September 30, a preview of the exhibition.

The Zoetermeer coat of arms depicts three lake flowers. That’s the old-fashioned name for the white water lily. Zoetermeer has had a connection with water since its inception. The water lilies are also on the city’s flag and logo. Since 2010, the water lily has been officially appointed ambassador of the city of Zoetermeer. But if it were an animal? Which animal would best suit the city?

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Vote for your ambassador

During the preview of the exhibition, 9 protagonists introduce themselves and tell you why you should vote for them. The peregrine falcon, the earthworm, the hedgehog, the crayfish, the house sparrow, the mallard duck, the bat, the dragonfly and the wild bee are all animals that you can find in Zoetermeer. Read their story and choose your favorite symbol animal. Go to the voting booth with your ballot now, fill it in and put it in the ballot box! Extra fun: if you have a vote makes, you get a free ticket for the exhibition.

Come too!

You can view the exhibition ‘WILD in the city! Visit on safari in Zoetermeer’ from Saturday 15 October. Tickets are available in the museum yourself. Are you coming too!?

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