Nieuwlandsreid – Salt marshes between dunes and sea
Between the Kooiduinen and ’t Oerd lies the Nieuwlandsreid: a vast salt marsh area of about 400 hectares with an open, expansive character. The landscape is shaped by tides, grazing, and history – and over the years has gained a unique value.
The northern part of the area is called the Zoute Weide (Salty Willow). Once, this was a dynamic piece of sand flat where young dunes formed. In the nineteenth century, the area could still be completely flooded during high water from the North Sea. This changed in 1893, when the Kooiduinen and ’t Oerd were connected by the construction of the Kooioerdstuifdijk. Since then, the Nieuwlandsreid has only been affected by the Wadden Sea.
A special sight: cows, sheep, and horses grazing between ditches and paddling in the mudflats of the Wadden Sea. A large part of the Nieuwlandsreid is owned by a company whose shareholders are Ameland farmers—commonly known as ‘De Vennoot’. It involves 560 shares, which have regulated the joint ownership of the rugged outside-dike area since 1920. One share grants the right for grazing by two sheep, one lamb, half a cow, or half a horse, from May 1 to December 1.
In the past, farmers took turns tending the livestock; nowadays, a fixed herder makes a round twice a day, lasting three and a half hours through the terrain. The Vennoot is a living example of the agricultural past of Ameland, where people and nature have been synchronized for centuries.
The Partner is located in an outside dike area without canals, but with natural slenken. What was once a bare sandy plain after a storm surge in the eighteenth century, changed after the construction of the sand embankment into a dune landscape on the north side and a lush salt marsh on the south side. The skó'stienrecht – the right for farmers with a smoking chimney to graze livestock – is now a thing of the past, but the cultural history lives on in the landscape.
Nowadays, the area is of great importance for birds. During the breeding season, species such as stilts, whimbrels, and Eurasian skylarks live here.
In autumn and winter, many migratory birds and winter visitors find rest and food here. Thanks to extensive management through grazing, the landscape remains open, lively, and rich in natural values.
On foot, Nieuwlandsreid is well worth exploring. Several walking trails run through the area, allowing you to experience the landscape up close: slenken, salty meadows, and expansive vistas as far as you can see.
Note: dogs are welcome, but must always be on a leash to maintain peace for the livestock and birds.
Looking for more walking inspiration? Then check out our tips for beautiful routes on the page Walking on Ameland.
The Nieuwlandsreid is located in the eastern part of Ameland.
You can see the Nieuwlandsreid clearly from the cycle path along the Kooioerdstuifdijk, which runs almost entirely beside it.
Cycle along the Nieuwlandsreid over the Kooioerdstuifdijk, and you will encounter a landscape full of silence, birds, and vistas. Lapwings dive up from the grass, oystercatchers call above the fields, and oystercatchers make their sharp calls heard. Those who pedal further will arrive at the Oerdhut and can climb the Oerdblinkert – the highest point of Ameland.
Here begins one of the most untouched natural areas of the island: ’t Oerd and De Hôn. Dunes and tidal flats blend seamlessly, with rugged vegetation and a vast view over the Wadden Sea.
The Nieuwlandsreid is a paradise for bird watchers. Here you can hear the lapwing call, see oystercatchers foraging in the mudflats, and hear the skylark singing above the field.
During the breeding season, the area is an important refuge for many species, and in autumn and winter, numerous migratory birds and winter guests settle here.
