Wormer- en Jisperveld, Nature area and bird sanctuary near Wormerland, Netherlands.
Wormer- en Jisperveld is a nature area with marshland, grassland, and open water located north of Amsterdam. The terrain consists of thousands of small islands separated by shallow ditches, creating an intricate web of land and water.
The area was formed in the Middle Ages when farmers drained peatlands and dug thousands of ditches to create farmable land. This pattern of water and divided fields has remained unchanged for centuries and shapes what you see from above today.
You will see farmers working the land as you visit: cattle grazing in meadows, reed being harvested, and hay being dried in traditional ways. This daily work shapes how the landscape looks and functions throughout the seasons.
The area can be explored on foot and by canoe along marked routes that guide you through the landscape. Visitors should be prepared for changeable weather since the open terrain offers little shelter from wind and rain.
The area is home to a rare vole species found elsewhere only in tundra regions, and it serves as a crucial breeding site for black-tailed godwits. These wading birds return each year, making spring a particularly notable time to visit.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.