The Naardermeer (Naarder Lake) is just southwest of Naarden. On the banks of the lake, Count Floris V was murdered in 1296. It was the first nature reserve in The Netherlands and the lake and its surrounding marshland comprise one of the most beautiful nature reserves in The Netherlands. The lake's surroundings are home to countless bird species, deer, small mammals and the lake itself is rich in fish.
The land around the banks of the Naardermeer is closed to the public and the whole area has been under the protection of the Nature Monuments Organization since 1906. There are wooden huts that serve as lookouts to observe the animals.
In the past, fresh water from the lake was used to re-hydrate the nearby land, but now the area is left untouched and it is hard to imagine that this area is only 20 km southeast of the capital city of Amsterdam.
Find a flight to Naardermeer