Hiking on Ameland

"Experiencing nature happens outdoors!

Experiencing nature can take various forms. Some do it by watching nature documentaries on TV or in the cinema, while others find their backyard beautiful enough. But as a forester, I can confidently say that you truly immerse yourself in nature when you live it. With your shoes in the mud or your bare feet in the sand or grass. Feeling the wind and sun on your skin, that's what makes it real. It happens outside! On Ameland, nature is just around the corner. Just outside the villages, you find yourself quickly surrounded by nature. There are many beautiful hiking paths and routes on Ameland, but one of my favorites is the yellow hiking route in the Lange Duinen Noord. A stop at the birdwatching hut is recommended.

Gazing over the water pond
Around the water pond at Lange Duinen Noord, it's delightful to spend time in the spring. Birds are making their presence known again, singing their most beautiful melodies to impress their partners. The reed collar around the pond changes from a brownish-gray edge to a rim with a fresh green color in this period. There is so much to see and hear that it's definitely worth standing still for a while. An excellent place to do this is the birdwatching hut next to the pond along the Finnegatspad.

Bustle around the pond
The activity around the pond increases as the season progresses. Initially, some geese and ducks, later the number of bird species grows. In that respect, birds can indeed be compared to Ameland's visitors. As conditions improve, the number also increases. So apparently, Ameland is a top location! In the beginning, the vegetation doesn't provide enough shelter, and the birds are extra visible. But as soon as the green comes through, the birds seem to disappear. But nothing could be further from the truth. On the pond, they show off before taking their partner to the shelter of the greenery, where they work on their future. Because they don't tolerate onlookers there. Although some do it more conspicuously than others.

Unique appearance
In addition to being visible, the sounds also betray the birds. The mysterious "hoempen" of the bittern is one of the most striking sounds. By the end of March, the first hoemp sounds can be heard, as if someone is blowing into an empty beer bottle. You're a skilled birdwatcher if you spot the animal. Its plumage is actually adorned with a projection of a reed collar, yellow-brown with black and whitish stripes. The bittern is heard more often than seen, and when it does appear, it's a unique sight. It seems like the proportions are off. With a long, sharp beak, a long, thick neck, a fairly large body, and a pair of long stilts underneath, the animal has a size of about 75 cm, so it's not a small one.

Unfortunately, at the time of writing, the route is difficult to navigate due to the amount of water on the paths. But when it dries up, it is indeed a top location where, in the spring, birds like cormorants, geese, spoonbills, reed warblers, and bluethroats are buzzing. You feel and experience the elements of nature, live the beautiful transition from wetter dune valleys to the dunes and the Green Beach. Nature gets more colorful as the season progresses, irises, thistles, and orchids then shine along the paths. A paradise for nature and bird enthusiasts."

Marjan Veenendaal, Forester at Staatsbosbeheer Ameland, February 2024

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