De Biesbosch National Park

De Biesbosch National Park
Nationaal Park De Biesbosch
Hollandse Biesbosch near Dordrecht, Netherlands
Map of the National Park
Map of the National Park
LocationMunicipalities: Altena, Dordrecht, Drimmelen, Geertruidenberg
Provinces: North Brabant, South Holland
Country: Netherlands
Nearest cityDordrecht, Netherlands
Coordinates51°44′N 4°45′E / 51.733°N 4.750°E / 51.733; 4.750
Area90 km2 (35 sq mi)
Established1994
Governing bodyStaatsbosbeheer
www.biesbosch.org
Official nameBiesbosch
Designated23 May 1980
Reference no.197[1]
Sunset over the Biesbosch
Air view over the Biesbosch.

De Biesbosch National Park is one of the largest national parks in the Netherlands[2] and one of the last extensive areas of freshwater tidal wetlands in Northwestern Europe. The Biesbosch ('forest of sedges' or 'rushwoods') consists of a large network of rivers and smaller and larger creeks with islands. The vegetation is mostly willow forests, although wet grasslands and fields of reed are common as well.[3] The Biesbosch is an important wetland area for waterfowl and has a rich flora and fauna. It is especially important for migrating geese.

  1. ^ "Biesbosch". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Samenwerkingsverband Nationale Parken" (in Dutch).
  3. ^ "Planten in de Biesbosch" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2014-10-16.