Excursions on Monday 6 July 2026
On Monday 6 July, we offer several excursions. Explore the Dutch dune landscape. Learn how farmers, citizens and researchers work together to shape the future of Dutch agriculture, in the Polder Lab. Or experience how Dutch land reclamation generates novel ecosystems, in the Oostervaardersplassen and Markerwadden.
All excursions are subject to change and a minimal number of participants. The organisation holds the right to cancel or change the excursion if this seems necessary. Registrants will be informed of these changes as soon as possible.
Exploring the Dutch Dune Landscape
Location: Berkheide (Staatsbosbeheer)
Date: Monday 6 July
Time: 9:30 departure from Lecture Hall, Leiden University, 10:00 start excursion
Duration: 5-5.5 hours (including 3 hour walk and lunch)
Hours travelling from Leiden: 30 minutes
Costs: € 70,00
Note: There is a maximum number of participants for this excursion. Participants should be in sufficient physical condition to comfortably walk for approximately three hours.
What will you see?
Join us for an immersive field excursion into one of the Netherlands’ most characteristic landscapes: the dunes. We will visit Berkheide, a designated Natura 2000 area and part of the Hollandse Duinen National Park.
Biologist and guest lecturer Bart van Engeldorp Gastelaars will guide you on a three-hour walk through several iconic dune habitats, including wet dune slacks (H2190), fixed coastal dunes (H2130*), and embryonic shifting dunes (H2110). At the end of the walk we will have lunch together in a restaurant on the beach.
What will you learn?
During the excursion, you will learn about the ecology, natural history, and longstanding human influences that have shaped this dynamic coastal system. We will also discuss current environmental threats facing dune ecosystems and explore examples of nature management and ongoing restoration projects in the area.
This excursion is made possible in collaboration with Staatsbosbeheer, the managing authority of this nature reserve.
Polderlab: a sustainable future for Dutch polders
Location: Vrouwe Venne polder
Date: Monday 6 July
Time: 10:00 departure from Apothekersdijk, Leiden City Center
Duration: 4.5-5 hours (including lunch)
Hours travelling from Leiden: 0 minutes – excursion starts immediately on the boat
Costs: € 70,00
Note: There is a maximum number of participants for this excursion. Extra info: Polderlab.
The boat is accessible for wheelchairs
What will you see?
We will leave by boat from Leiden and see the Dutch polder landscape from the water. After about 5 kilometers, we will reach Polderlab Vrouwe Venne, where farmers, citizens and researchers work together to shape the future of Dutch agriculture. We will take a guided tour (walking) through the polder. After the tour we will have lunch together at Brasserie Vennemeer and boat back to Leiden.
What will you learn?
You will learn how farmers and citizens restore biodiversity and the peat meadow landscape, while providing a sustainable livelihood for farmers. You will see what a restored future landscape can look like.
Exploring New Land: Markerwadden and Oostvaardersplassen
Location: Markerwadden and Oostvaardersplassen
Date: Monday 6 July
Time: 9:00 departure from Leiden
Duration: 8-9 hours (all day; including lunch)
Hours travelling from Leiden: 60 minutes
Costs: € 70,00
Note: There is a maximum number of participants for this excursion. Extra info: Natuurmonumenten and Staatsbosbeheer.
What will you see and what will you learn?
The Dutch are good at land reclamation, which generates novel ecosystems. Today we will visit two of those in the vicinity of Lelystad: the 50+ year old famous Oostvaardersplassen and the recently developed 10 year old Marker Wadden archipelago. We will visit the Oostvaardersplassen wetland, where a marsh reset has taken place by means of a four year dry fall of half of the wetland, which resulted in hundreds of hectares of new reed beds.
When we visit, the water level has been raised again, which is expected to give a strong boost to wetland birds. The grassland part of Oostvaardersplassen is well known for its large herbivores, Heck cattle, Konik horses and red deer, which we may see from a look-out post.
From Lelystad we take the boat to Marker Wadden (lunch will be provided on the boat), which is an engineered archipelago designed as a bird paradise in Lake Markermeer of which we can visit the main island. In both excursion sites we will discuss the role of engineering and rewilding, water level dynamics, grazers and restoration and conservation of wetland birds.