Whispers of history linger in Middenduin. This isn’t just any nature reserve. Middenduin boasts a rich past etched into its very sand. For 158 hectares Middenduin stretches between Bloemendaal and Zandvoort. It’s a place where nature reclaims what humans once took.
Imagine the 19th century. Steep dunes needed taming. Forests of Scots pine and Corsican pine were planted. These trees held the shifting sands. Over time Middenduin’s forest diversified. Hidden amidst the trees near Duinlust stands an old ice cellar. Vleermuizen use it as a winter home. A secret sanctuary for these nocturnal creatures.
Middenduin’s story isn’t just about trees. From 1850 to 1948 sand was excavated here. It fuelled Amsterdam and Haarlem’s growth. Workers toiled moving the sand by hand. They used carts on rails. The sand travelled by barge along the Zanderijvaart. A waterway now a quiet reminder of this industry. Sand extraction largely ceased around 1930. The land became allotment gardens and bulb fields.
Then came a transformation. In 1992 Staatsbosbeheer took over. They restored a delicate ecosystem. The valley became a haven for plants that thrive in damp dunes. Clean spring water nourishes water violets round-leaved wintergreen and marsh helleborine orchids. Scottish Highland cattle now graze parts of Middenduin. They help maintain the open landscape.
Three walking trails wind through Middenduin. Some paths are wheelchair accessible. From Middenduin you can easily reach the wisent observation point in Kraansvlak. You might catch a glimpse of these majestic creatures. Middenduin offers a journey through time. A testament to nature’s resilience. It’s a place where the past whispers secrets to the present. A truly captivating experience.