A true storyteller is interested in the stories from his region. Age is no exception. One of the things he enjoys the most is that the many stories here are intertwined with the national park: “Traditionally, everyone here lived in and with nature. The people were reed cutters, skippers, and farmers, for instance here in Earnewald. It was almost a primitive environment, yet they always kept their heads above water, both literally and figuratively. That produces resilient people and nature lovers who don't listen to the radio for the weather, but who look to the sky.

Acquiring with the Alde Feanen

“The entire animal life is intertwined with it. Fishermen could enjoy the gracefulness of the otter, but at the same time, they disliked them because they would bite the nets. Everyone lived in and with nature here. They were small farmers who maybe had six to eight cows and lived off of those. They went into the area with the barge to collect grass and hay for the cattle and to cut reeds in winter. All of Friesland was a waterland; all transport was over water. Even now, there are still some places you can only reach by boat. And I tell my visitors that people didn’t go grocery shopping in the past. People lived off their own land. They had their own food, their own cows, and grew their own vegetables. People also went into the area in search of duck eggs to eat. That's how it was in the past. You lived off nature and could enjoy the sound of birds in the morning. People were born in the area and grew up in the area.”

Age Veldboom

What Age appreciates about National Park Alde Feanen is the variety

“We have wide lakes, marshes, reed fields, ditches, summer polders with grassland and cows. Scattered around you'll find a farm, a small house, a houseboat; that makes such an area unique. If you also know that there were people in hiding here during World War II with all their stories....”

Age never gets tired of De Alde Feanen: "In summer and winter, it's always beautiful in this area. It's our job to take our guests out into the area and let them experience the nature and the stories. The canoe trips are delightful and bring peace. You are so close to the water and reach places you wouldn't otherwise and see things you wouldn't otherwise notice. You go very close to the water's edge and then suddenly you see nesting geese! You almost stumble over them and then you see it, so special!"

Age is optimistic about the future of National Park De Alde Feanen: “I think the area is doing quite well. I find the recreational co-use of the area very important.  At the same time, there must be a balance, because tourism also causes disturbance. As far as I'm concerned, there will be fewer motorboats and more sailboats in the future. With sailboats, you are more in touch with nature. A motorboat is consumptive, you make noise and burn fuel, while a sailboat makes no noise, pollutes nothing, and you engage much more intensely with wind and water, which is more fulfilling.”