Since 2007, a herd of European bison has been living in the Kraansvlak, a closed-off part of Zuid-Kennemerland National Park. European bison are the largest living land mammals in Europe. Not so long ago, they were nearly extinct. Now, you can spot them from various locations. Are you coming along?
The herd in the Kraansvlak
April 24, 2007, was the day. Three bison made their entrance into the Kraansvlak, an open dune area between Bloemendaal and Zandvoort. The goal? To gain experience with grazing by bison in the Dutch landscape. Extensive research is being conducted on the bison's impact on nature and the well-being of the herd. The size of the bison herd in Kraansvlak varies. Sometimes there are 24, sometimes 13. The video below shows how the bison live together in the area.
The best view at the Wisent lookout point
From the Wisent lookout point, you have a great view of the largest dune lake in Kraansvlak. On warm summer days, the bison spend a lot of time here because they can drink here. From the National Park Zuid-Kennemerland visitor center (Koevlak entrance), you can walk through Middenduin to this point in 20 minutes. The 1.7-kilometer walking route is easy to find on Google Maps and is also well signposted. Would you prefer to take the route accompanied? From the visitor center, excursions are regularly organized in which the ranger walks along and gives explanations along the way. You can find the visitor center at Zeeweg 2 in Overveen.
Tip! After your walk, settle down on the terrace of Duincafé De Kennemerduinen with a delicious organic assortment.
Wisenten Trail
You have a great chance of spotting bison if you follow the yellow route through the Kraansvlak. The route of approximately 3 kilometers is marked with yellow posts and winds through the dune landscape. You start at the Duinpieperpad in Zandvoort North. Note: the route is only open from September 1 to March 1 due to the breeding season.
Are you on a bike? The bison are also often visible from the bicycle path along the Kraansvlak: Duinpieperpad and Visscherspad.
Do you want to know where the bison are located when you visit the area? Check the ‘Where Are They page’ in advance.
The Story of the Dunlin Fields
Wander with guide Bram over the dune tops in search of the authentic dunlin fields. Bram knows every dune top along the Dunlin Path like the back of his hand. In 2.5 hours, you will walk towards the hidden dunlin fields, where a number of true Zandvoort locals annually grow their 'golden' harvest. Along the way, you will receive all sorts of information about the local flora and fauna throughout the different seasons. You'll also hear the most humorous stories about the Zandvoort locals and their farming past.
Excursions through the Kraansvlak
Do you want to go searching for the bison in the Kraansvlak with a ranger? It's possible! During the hike through the dunes, the ranger will tell you about this endangered species and the dune area it inhabits. Reservations can be made via the activity calendar.
You can also request a bison excursion for a group of colleagues, friends, or family. This excursion is only available on Fridays. Please reserve at least 3 weeks before the desired excursion date. For more information, contact Visitors' Center De Kennemerduinen.