Dordtse Biesbosch

The Dordtse Biesbosch is a nature reserve near Dordrecht with a network of waterways, willow forests, and wetlands shaped by river and tidal forces. The area is crossed by walking paths and boat routes that connect different sections of this water landscape.

The area was once farmland but has been systematically restored into a nature reserve since 1994. This recovery allowed water to reshape the landscape and bring back plants and wildlife.

The visitor center displays exhibits about how beavers, fish, and birds live together in this reed landscape. The displays show how water connects all the creatures that make this place their home.

You can explore the area by renting quiet boats, canoes, or walking on marked paths that begin from the visitor center. The water level changes throughout the day, which affects which routes are easiest to travel.

This is one of Europe's rare freshwater tidal zones where river flows and tidal effects mix every day. This unusual combination creates habitats that are hard to find anywhere else in Europe.