Bezoekerscentrum Dwingelderveld, Nature center in Ruinen, Netherlands
The visitor center sits at the entrance of Dwingelderveld National Park, offering exhibits about local wildlife and information on the largest wet heath area in Western Europe. From here, multiple walking paths lead into the landscape, ranging from a wheelchair-friendly family route to longer forest trails.
The landscape formed roughly 150,000 years ago when Scandinavian glaciers ground stones and rocks into a thick clay layer that traps water. This geological foundation created the conditions for the wet heath ecosystem that exists there today.
Two flocks of Drenthe heath sheep, managed by local shepherds, graze across the heathland and shape how the landscape looks today. You can see how this traditional practice keeps the open heath from becoming overgrown with trees and bushes.
The center connects to multiple walking paths, including a 5.5-kilometer forest trail and a wheelchair-accessible family route through the heathland. These paths let you explore at your own pace and observe wildlife and landscape features up close.
Inside the center sits a large topographical map made from wool of local sheep, showing the geographical features of the park. This handcrafted work ties together the animals and the landscape in an unexpected way.
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