The Doolhof is a willow flood forest in the heart of the Biesbosch. It can only be reached by water. In winter you imagine yourself in a mysterious swamp.
A willow floodplain forest -such as the Doolhof- is rare not only in the Netherlands, but throughout Europe. They are the result of naturalization of a willow from which wood was chopped and processed into, for example, stems for tools or made into zinc pieces that were sunk to prevent erosion of dikes. For the latter, mainly brushwood was used; the toes and twigs of willow.
You could leave your canoe for a walk through the willow floodplain forest, but be careful not to get lost. The place is rough and soggy. The dark pools have the smell of rotting tree stumps. Here you are in the grienden of death. A rugged piece of Biesbosch where nature rules. But, oh, how beautiful it is here! Irises, balsam, mosses, ferns, mushrooms, herbs. You'll feast your eyes. In this area you might just run into a fox, or a spoonbill, while deer and rats also sniff around.
Bird lovers enjoy coming here as much as the merry whistlers themselves. Within the Biesboch, this is a unique piece of nature that you can explore at your leisure, and the Maze Route goes mostly through narrow creeks. Feel free to reserve a day for the entire route and hike, as there is plenty to see and the area deserves to be taken quietly. If only because you have an even better chance of spotting a rare bird or encountering a beaver.
