Drouwenerzand, Geological monument and nature area in Borger-Odoorn, Netherlands.
Drouwenerzand is a geological monument and protected nature area in northeastern Netherlands with gently rolling hills, heathland, and wetland zones. The site spans multiple municipalities and is designated as a Natura 2000 protected zone.
The area formed during the ice age and later suffered severe damage from sheep grazing and peat extraction in the 18th and 19th centuries. Resulting sandstorms eventually prompted large-scale tree planting programs that stabilized the land.
The name reflects the area's past as drifting sandy terrain, and today visitors can see heathland and patches of forest that now characterize the landscape. The planted woodlands represent the local response to land degradation through practical environmental action.
Multiple walking trails cross the area and link viewing points where you can examine the land formations from different perspectives. The terrain is gently rolling and easy to navigate on foot with clearly marked paths.
This was the first site in the province to receive geological monument status, making it a protected area for scientific research and documentation. The designation marked a turning point in how the region approached conservation.
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