De Groote Peel National Park

De Groote Peel National Park
Nationaal Park De Groote Peel
IUCN category II (national park)
Map of the National Park
Location	North Brabant and Limburg, Netherlands
Coordinates	51°21′N 5°49′E / 51.350°N 5.817°E / 51.350; 5.817
Area	13.4 km2 (5.2 sq mi)
Established	1993
Governing body	Overlegorgaan De Groote Peel
www.nationaal-parkdegrootepeel.nl
Ramsar Wetland
Official name	Groote Peel
Designated	23 May 1980
Reference no.	192[1]

De Groote Peel National Park is a national park in De Peel, a region in the southeast of the Netherlands on the border between the provinces of Limburg and North Brabant. It has a size of 13.4 km² and preserves a peat bog that has remained partly untouched by peat cutting, which used to be extensive in the area.

It is one of the most bird-rich areas in Western Europe, with resident black-necked grebes and sometimes migrating common cranes in October/November. The terrain is varied with inaccessible peat swamps, lakes, heath land and sand ridges. The present swamp and some of the lakes were created by the cutting of peat.

There is a 3 km-long route guided by red poles with a tower that provides visitors with a view of the wasteland. Care must be taken if leaving the assigned route. The swamps can be treacherous.