Belt-Schutsloot, Genemuiden and Hasselt

This route of over forty kilometers starts in the heart of one of the most important swamp areas in Europe: De Wieden. Together with the more northern Weerribben, this area has been extensively excavated through peat extraction. This has created extensive reed fields, flowery hay fields and dense swamp forests between gullies, lakes, ponds, canals and fens. The swamps are densely planted with special plants: pine clubmoss, swamp clubmoss, blond sedge and slender cotton grass. Hunters such as the cormorant, the curlew, the black tern and the purple heron take fish from the waters of De Wieden, but it is also the domain of other birds of prey. The marsh harrier and rare short-eared owl hunt rabbits, otters and squirrels on the quaking fens, blue grasslands and bogs. Foxes and deer hide among the greenery, while you see many dragonfly species and butterflies. Cycling through De Wieden you can fully enjoy the calm waters, but also the activity that matches the many marinas in this area.