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The Avifauna-Meije route is a 63 km route along the Nieuwkoopse Plassen. The route can be shortened in various ways. De Meije is a (ribbon) village between Zwammerdam/Bodegraven, Zegveld, Woerdense Verlaat and Nieuwkoop. The village is divided over three municipalities, Bodegraven, Woerden and Nieuwkoop, and two provinces, South Holland and Utrecht. You will find several pleasant gardens, terraces and shops with regional products from the Groene Hart. Such as"de Boomgaard\\\" with a lovely terrace or"de Blauwe Meije\\\", where I was warmly welcomed with coffee and apple pie. It is breeding season again, so there is a good chance that you will encounter young grebes, ducks or geese along the lakes. Blue herons and purple herons breed in the tops of the willow and alder groves. This is the largest colony of purple herons in the Netherlands. The area is also one of the most important breeding areas for black terns and black-headed gulls. And you might even spot an otter! After almost 40 years, the otter has been spotted again around the Nieuwkoopse Plassen. You will find a lookout tower on the cycle path (the Hollandse Kade) in the Woerdense Verlaat (no. 80). This 4 meter high tower on the edge of the De Haeck nature reserve provides a beautiful view over the"Wijde van de Vliet\\\" and"Bleigaten\\\" and overlooks, among other things, the purple heron colony. A visit to the Nieuwkoopseplassen Visitor Center is also a nice stopover. Take a boat trip here or view one of the exhibitions.