There are various sand excavations scattered across Het Gooi: places where meters of sand were excavated in the last century for housing and road construction. De Kuil van Koppel, Crailoo and De Kuil van Blaricum are just a few. At the Groeve Oostermeent between Huizen and Blaricum, a panel has now been revealed that indicates what the special natural values of these areas have become. The Goois Nature Reserve calls them ‘natural pearls’.
Karin Kos, director-steward of the Goois Nature Reserve: “When the sand was excavated at the time, it was a disaster for the local nature. A lot of special vegetation was lost and groundwater flows were disrupted. We would never do that again.” The excavations stopped in the 1970s, partly because it was then realized that the damage to nature was too great.
Because the areas were abandoned for a long time afterwards, nature was able to recover and develop. And now they have become very special nature reserves. With the unveiling of special information panels, these areas have regained their nature status.
The special nature in the sand excavation was created because the groundwater has come to the surface. After all, the sand was excavated as far as possible. There are now pools with clear water where amphibians live. At the Oostermeent there is a sand wall in which dozens of sand martins breed. The fox has also discovered this, which seriously hampered the breeding success last year. This year it is hoped to take extra measures so that more young sand martins become fledgling.