Nature
The Amsterdamse Bos is a polder forest that lies in a rare clay soil type. Its diverse landscape of wet and dry patches, wooded areas, grassland, reed land and open water provides a unique habitat for many flora and fauna species, including rabbits, squirrels, frogs, salamanders, woodpeckers and birds of prey.
The natural beauty of the Amsterdamse Bos can roughly be divided into the following areas:
- the Schinkelbos (with grazing Scottish Highlander cows)
- the Southern Oeverlanden (habitat of the marsh harrier)
- the Oeverlanden Amstelveense Poel (attention bird lovers: here you can find buntings, reed warblers and sometimes even Savi’s warbler; buzzards, hawks and sparrow hawks ensure that the natural balance is kept, and this is also where you can find wild orchids and other rare plants)
- Vogeleiland (‘Bird Island’, home to numerous exceptional species of plants and butterflies)
- the Meerzicht Polder (which harbours meadow flowers and typical Dutch meadow birds such as the redshank, black-tailed godwit and lapwing).
Big Five
Most likely, you are familiar with the African Big Five. But did you know that the Amsterdamse Bos has its own Big Five? We proudly present to you the following five magnificent inhabitants: the marsh harrier, the kingfisher, the Scottish Highlander, the squirrel and the grass snake. See if you can spot them all!