De Alde Feanen National Park (official, combination of Dutch and Frisian: ''Nationaal Park De Alde Feanen'') is a national park in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

province of

Friesland Friesland (, ; official fry, Fryslân ), historically and traditionally known as Frisia, is a province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen, northwest of Drenthe and Overijssel, north of ...

. The Alde Feanen is also a

Natura 2000 Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas designated under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive, respectively ...

area. The Alde Feanen is part of the municipalities

Leeuwarden Leeuwarden (; fy, Ljouwert, longname=yes /; Town Frisian: ''Liwwadden''; Leeuwarder dialect: ''Leewarden'') is a city and municipality in Friesland, Netherlands, with a population of 123,107 (2019). It is the provincial capital and seat of the ...

, Smallingerland and

Tytsjerksteradiel Tytsjerksteradiel () is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. It is named after the town of Tytsjerk, whose name is derived from a person named Tiete. Tiete was a daughter of Tryn, after whom the region (Trynwâlden) is n ...

. Its size is about . Part of the national park is the lake area ''Princenhof'' (or Princehof). The Alde Feanen contains morasses, lakes, forests, peat and meadows. In the area at least 450 plant species and 100 bird species can be found. A very prominent bird is the

white stork The white stork (''Ciconia ciconia'') is a large bird in the stork family, Ciconiidae. Its plumage is mainly white, with black on the bird's wings. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks, and measure on average from beak tip to en ...

(''Ciconia ciconia''). Tall wooden poles have been installed so that the storks can build nests. Another attraction is provided by

Shetland ponies The Shetland pony is a Scottish breed of pony originating in the Shetland Isles in the north of Scotland. It may stand up to at the withers. It has a heavy coat and short legs, is strong for its size, and is used for riding, driving, and ...

. Some of the paddocks can be entered so that ponies can be petted by visitors. In the village of

Earnewâld Earnewâld ( nl, Eernewoude) is a village in Tytsjerksteradiel in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. It had a population of around 409 in January 2017. A windmill, '' De Princehofmolen'', is maintained as a landscape feature. History ...

there is a visitors centre, De Reidplûm, close to the stork breeding station It Eibertshiem. The area is owned by It Fryske Gea since 1934. After a preparation period of 4 years, the Minister of Nature designed it as the 20th (, the last) national park in the Netherlands in 2006. In the Alde Feanen are several monumental wind mills, such as 'De Ikkers', a so-called 'spinnenkopmolen' from the 18th century.

Pictures

Image:Storks in Alde Feanen.jpg, Two

s on their nest Image:De Alde Feanen - 3.jpg, Image:NP-DeAldeFeanenKaart.jpg, Map of Alde Feanen National Park Image:Shetland ponies in Alde Feanen.jpg, Shetland ponies including foal File:Amerikaanse windmolen.JPG, An American windmill in the park

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Alde Feanen Protected areas established in 2006 2006 establishments in the Netherlands National parks of the Netherlands Natura 2000 in the Netherlands Ramsar sites in the Netherlands Tourist attractions in Friesland Geography of Friesland Leeuwarden Smallingerland Tytsjerksteradiel