The Biesbosch Line is rich in natural areas. Stichting Brabants Landschap, Stichting Altenatuur, Staatsbosbeheer and some private individuals take care of this beautiful landscape and the sometimes rare animal and plant species that live there. Thanks to their efforts, we can enjoy all this beauty. So put on your walking shoes, climb on the saddle or get in your canoe, and marvel at all the beauty that the nature of Altena has to offer.
The Almbos (39 ha) was planted half a century ago as a recreational forest. Besides the old grienden of willow trees, the new planting consists mainly of poplars. In the middle is a large pond, created during sand mining in the 1960s. Brabants Landschap manages the grienden as before. You will also find a good number of fruit trees.
Where: Near Rijswijk and Giessen
Parking place: Wilgenhof, Giessen
Flora: In spring spearweed and cow parsley, poplars, willows and fruit trees
Fauna: Golden oriole and garden warbler
Do: Walking
Hiking route: Around Fort Giessen
A complete river landscape on 25 acres, with lakes from clay mining, beaches and marshy area, flowery grassland and fish-rich water. The area is an oasis for water and marsh birds, including Kuifeend and Lesser reed warbler. In addition, the rare crabgrass grows here.
Where: Floodplain along the Upper Merwede, north of Werkendam
Flora: Crab feather, cave pipe, swan flower and yellow plump.
Fauna : Rich in water and marsh birds, including Kuifeend and Lesser reed warbler.
Do: Bird watching, hiking
Hiking trail: blue hiking trail from Brabants Landschap (1.5 km)
Parking: Parking lot Sasdijk
Take a round trip through most of the natural areas on this page? You can do that with our cycling route "Off the paths, into the fields. Cycle from nature reserve to nature reserve, and get off for a walk, a nice view or a delicious picnic.
Over the past 50 years, the Duyls Bos has been transformed from logging land for clogging to a privately owned mixed forest with native species. Part of the forest serves as an ecological connecting zone between the Kornsche Boezem and the Pompveld. Furthermore, buildings can be found that reflect "the time of the past.
Where: Almkerk, entrance: 250 m south of the Midgraaf
Opening Hours: The forest is open when the sign "Field Chapel" is on Duylweg, and the gate is open.
Website: https://duylsbos.nl/
The Groesplaat (120 ha) is the catchment area of the Oudendijk Gully. This "co-flowing side channel" helps the Merwede drain excess water at high tide. At high tide, the river deposits seeds, giving rise to unusual flora. In the area live plenty of black-tailed godwits, redshanks and cormorants and herds of horses and cows graze.
Where: Between Sleeuwijk and Woudrichem, on the Upper Merwede
Flora: Pipeflower, Garden Angelica
Fauna: Water birds
Do: Walking, bird watching in bird hide 't Vinkennestje
Route: Several marked routes of Brabants Landschap.
Parking place: ' t Vinkennestje and marina Sleeuwijk .
In the Kornsche Boezem (42 ha), the water level is carefully managed with ditches, ditches, culverts and weirs to allow for seepage. Here you can enjoy special nature: from old willows to marshy hay meadows with special plant species such as crab crab, marsh fritillary and marsh fritillary.
Caution! The Kornsche Boezem is a wet nature reserve. Sturdy shoes or boots are not a luxury.
Where: Dussen
Flora: Crab crabgrass, kingcup, marsh fritillary.
Fauna : Mud crawlers
Do: Hiking
Parking: At the Noordeveld Mill, Kornsche Boezemweg 4, Dussen
An area of some 4,450 hectares on the Nieuwe Merwede, on the north side of National Park the Biesbosch. From 2010-2015, the area was de-poldered: what was once inner dike territory now became outer dike. The dike was lowered, allowing the Nieuwe Merwede to overflow its banks at high tide. It is an excellent area for canoe trips.
Where: On the Nieuwe Merwede, on the north side of National Park the Biesbosch
Fauna: Spoonbills, common terns, egrets, sea and osprey, Scottish Highlanders, Konik horses and Water Buffalo
Things to do: Canoeing, hiking
Routes: Canoeing Noordwaard, Walking Route Staatsbosbeheer
Parking: parking lot Polder Oude Hardenhoek or parking lot Pannekoek on the Hilweg
Very wetland nature reserve, with freshwater tides, creeks and wildflower forests. Of course, the park is known as home to the beaver, but it is also the territory of many bird species; from cormorant to swallow, and from kingfisher to barn owl. Explore this unique natural area on foot or from the water.
Do: Cycling, hiking, canoeing, bird watching
More information: National Park the Biesbosch
Route: Canoe routes in the Biesbosch
The Meuse once flowed in this 10-hectare area until it was dammed at Hedikhuizen around 1273. The area has been set up as an ecological connecting zone. The wide, natural banks of the Old Meuse have a rich flora and fauna.
Where: Between the Bergsche Maas and the winter dike near Drongelen
Flora: Reed and meadow grass, Bank seagrass, Sharp, Yellow iris, Meadowsweet, various fountain weeds
Fauna: Duckbills, kingfishers, dragonflies
Do: Hiking
This small polder (239 ha) escaped consolidation. The pump field is higher than the surrounding area and is kept wet by drainage. The area is a reserve, with an old, still functioning duck decoy in the middle. This can be visited on request. The Pompveld itself is only accessible on the annual open day. The footpath outside is accessible all year round.
Where: Between Andel and Babyloniënbroek
Flora: Crab beds, rich variety of shore plants.
Fauna : Wigeon, goose, great egret, hawk, roe deer.
Do: Walking
Parking: Near Midgraaf 27, Babyloniënbroek
A 48-acre rugged floodplain with wetlands, reed thickets and riparian forest. The river beaches are strewn with shells of the basket mussel. The riparian forest is home to the beaver. Nettles are well represented; not ideal for a hiker in shorts, but ideal for the nightingale, which builds its nest in them.
Where: north of Sleeuwijk on the Upper Merwede
Parking: Sleeuwijk marina
Flora: Spindle-totter
Fauna: Beaver, nightingale, green woodpecker
Things to do: Walking
Walking route: Signposted walking route of Brabants Landschap (3 km)
The Struikwaard (12 ha) has existed in its present form only since 1995. A young area, with a now mature nature. The artificial bank swallow wall is the annual nursery for dozens of pairs of bank swallows. The reedbeds are inhabited by the reed warbler, the beaver has left behind an abandoned lodge, and the partridges are becoming increasingly numerous thanks to nature management. Also enjoy the blossoms in the pear tree lane in spring.
Where: along the Afgedamde Maas near the Wilhelmina lock at Andel/Giessen
Fauna: bank swallow, warbler, beaver, partridge, kingfisher
Do: Walking
Routes: Round Fort Giessen
Parking: Wilhelminasluis in Giessen/Andel
This floodplain area is a "meent": it is the property of everyone born in Wijk. You will find 2 old strangen of the Meuse. In the middle of the area is a lookout hill. The Wijksche waard has been breeding territory of the Black Tern.
Where: Along the Afgedamde Maas near Wijk en Aalburg.
Flora: Cattail thistle, Cat's thorn.
Fauna: Meadow birds such as lapwing, black-tailed godwit and redshank.
Do: Walking, bird watching
The banks of this ancient, meandering stream are richly vegetated. They are therefore inhabited by many species of birds and insects, including the Matkop, Reed Bunting and Lesser Warbler. The Early Glassmaker, a dragonfly species has also found its habitat there.
The area is freely accessible on roads and trails. A bicycle path runs through the area, from Uitwijk to Poortweg.
Where: Between Uitwijk, Waardhuizen and Almkerk
Fauna: Matthead, Reed Bunting, Pheasant, Small Warbler, Early Glassmaker, numerous fish species.
Do: Walking, cycling
Near Fort Altena, between the casemates, lies the Zevenbansche Boezem. The boezem stores excess polder water and is also set up as an ecological connecting zone. The casemates have an ecological function: they are equipped as a hibernation place for bats. But the dome casemate is reserved as a bird-watching shelter for birdwatchers.
Where: Southwest of Sleeuwijk, in the vicinity of Fort Altena
Parking: Parking place Fort Altena, Carpool place Dijkgraaf den Dekkerweg
Fauna: Dragonfly, bat, kingfisher, shorebirds
Do: Walking, bird watching from the Koepelkazemat
Walking route: Round trip Fort Altena
Would you like to discover the Biesbosch and see what it has to offer? Then take a look at the site of Beleef de Biesbosch. See what is happening in the region through the agenda or discover all the regions in the Biesbosch. You will also find tips for a day or weekend trip and there are walking, cycling and sailing routes.