Dwingelderveld: wet heathland and two flocks of sheep
Pools, woodland and heath alternate in this Drenthe park. The visitor centre near Ruinen is a good starting point.
Dwingelderveld National Park describes itself as the largest continuous wet heathland area in Western Europe. Natuurmonumenten puts its current size at roughly 3,700 hectares. According to the manager, the area between heath and woodland also contains drifting sands, juniper groves and more than forty pools.
In 1930 Natuurmonumenten bought the first seven hundred hectares to protect the landscape. In autumn, according to the manager, grasses give the area an orange-yellow tint.
Two flocks of sheep are each tended by a shepherd. One flock has its fold at the Benderse, within walking distance of the visitor centre; the other fold is near Lhee. According to the park organisation, the Drenthe heath sheep helps keep heather short by eating young shoots.
Schaapskudde Ruinen publishes current departure and return times on its own website.
Bezoekerscentrum Dwingelderveld is at Benderse 22 in Ruinen. During the autumn holiday, the visitor centre is open from 10:00 to 17:00. For Saturday 17 October, the park calendar announces a national Boots Day (Laarzendag).
Work has been under way at Lheederzand and Ruinen since the end of September; closures are possible.