Wormer and Jisperveld; a meadow bird paradise

Only, Laag Holland has not always looked like this. Over the years, the area has been developed mainly by human hands. To make life below sea level liveable, large areas were drained and waterways were dug to drain away the water. Every day, people still work hard to maintain the special nature of Laag Holland.

So too in the Wormer and Jisperveld, which in turn has its own challenges. One problem facing not only the Wormer and Jisperveld, but the whole of the Netherlands, is the declining number of meadow birds. Since the end of the last century, the number of meadow birds in the Wormer- and Jisperveld has seen an annual decline. Natuurmonumenten, local farmers and volunteers have joined forces to ensure that the Wormer- en Jisperveld remains a walhalla for meadow birds. During your walk, read the story below and learn more about the meadow birds in this unique peat meadow area.

Wormer and Jisperveld; a meadow bird paradise

This walking route starts at NS Station Wormerveer. Soon you leave the station behind and walk along the iconic watercourse; the Zaan. Walking along the banks of the Zaan, you will have a magnificent view of the Zaan bend. The beautifully restored factories and warehouses soon loom on the other side. Names like Java, Batavia and Saigon allude to the faraway places where trade used to come from. Only the striking Lassie Factory is still in operation today. All the other factories and warehouses have all been beautifully repurposed as hotels, restaurants or offices.

The Veerdijk takes you through time, from the old industry in the Zaan bend, through the new industrial area to Visitor Centre De Poelboerderij. This visitor centre is also known as the 'gateway' to the Wormer- and Jisperveld. Tip: at Bezoekerscentrum De Poelboerderij you can go for beautiful boat trips, water play and more information about the peat meadow area, among other things.

The Wormer and Jisperveld is the largest interconnected peat meadow area in Western Europe. In spring, hundreds of meadow birds such as the black-tailed godwit, redshank, lapwing and oystercatcher descend here every year for the breeding season. Did you know that as many as 70% of the world's black-tailed godwit population flies to the Netherlands to breed every year? Everywhere you look in spring, you can see meadow birds rooting in the juicy grass and flying above the meadows. Take a good look around you!

If you were to believe your eyes, you wouldn't immediately say that things are going badly for the meadow bird. Yet the number of meadow birds has been declining every year since the end of the last century. Special nature management for meadow birds by Natuurmonumenten and local farmers has ensured that the numbers have stabilised in recent years, but unfortunately this is not enough. That is why Natuurmonumenten, together with local farmers and volunteers, is doing all it can to create the ideal habitat for the meadow bird. The meadow bird loves natural grasslands with lots of variation in herbs and grasses, soft soil to peck out food, lots of insects and little disturbance. Creating this requires special nature management. This includes fertilising, mowing at the right times and regulating the water balance of the grasslands. Want to know more about the management of the Wormer- and Jisperveld? Then click on point four on the route.

One of the biggest challenges in the Wormer and Jisperveld is water management. This is because meadow bird land should not be too dry, but not too wet either. To ensure the right balance between wet and dry, it is important to manage the water level accurately. The wooden and steel meadow windmills that can be found here and there in Wormer- and Jisperveld play an important role in this. Want to know more about meadow mills? Then click on point five on the route.

Walking along the Wormerringdijk, you walk towards a special place in the Wormer and Jisperveld: the Schaalsmeerpolder. This small, tight reclamation area is also known as the 'nursery' of the peat meadow area. Halfway through the Schaalsmeerpolder, you will find a puddle wetland with a picnic table. Feel free to take a seat here to enjoy the beautiful view.

'Mmmhoe', you might already hear them mooing; the cows in Natuurmonumenten's potting shed. You might not expect it, but the cows in this barn are very important for the grasslands in the Wormer- and Jisperveld. As soon as the cows are allowed out after the breeding season, they are taken by boat to various natural grasslands. With their manure, grazing and movements across the land, the grassland becomes even more varied, which is good for the meadow birds. Special after all! Want to know more about the potting shed in the Schaalsmeerpolder? Then click on point eight on the route.

After a nice round trip through the Schaalsmeerpolder, walk back towards NS Station Wormerveer. In the centre of Wormerveer, finish the day at one of the cosy catering establishments along the Zaan.

This route was developed by Bureau Toerisme Laag Holland, commissioned by the Twiske-Waterland Recreatieschap, the Alkmaarder- en Uitgeestermeer Recreatieschap and the Province of North Holland and is part of the Intergovernmental Programme Vital Countryside.