The ancient Mastbos

The Mastbos is the oldest production forest and the oldest planted coniferous forest in the Netherlands; Count Hendrik III was ahead of his time. The wood was used during the renovation of Kasteel van Breda, for the Spanish fleet and later for the masts of Dutch East India Company (VOC) ships. But the forest was not only used for wood. The lords of Oranje also used it as a hunting forest and shot partridges, pheasants, deer and other game there. "The forest is divided into sections that are separated from each other by broad, stately avenues," says Stella. “The sections are an internal division by Forestry Commission. The avenues have been there since ancient times. Those were the sightlines used for falconry. That structure from the past is still visible. The avenues all have names that refer to the rich history this place holds, such as the Lange Dreef, Frederiksdreef, Mastenlaan and de Oude Postbaan.”

During the Eighty Years' War, the Mastbos was neglected. What remained fell into the hands of the Spaniards. Despite the war struggles, the successor of Willem of Oranje, Prins Maurits, ordered the forest to be surveyed and a fenced hunting area to be created. Maurits always used geometry cleverly and effectively in his sieges and military campaigns. Within this area, a square - with sides of 1,300 metres each - is marked by broad avenues with trees and ditches: Maurits' vierkant. 400 years ago, this map was a geometric masterpiece. The square is formed by the Stouwdreef and Mastenlaan on the east side, the Oude Postbaan in the south, and the Goordreef on the west side. "We are working on making Maurits' square visible in the surroundings," Stella explains. "At each corner of the square, there are information panels that tell the story of Maurits."

Until 2017, the ancient separating beech stood at the square of Maurits. It was perhaps the most famous and most remarkable tree in the Mastbos. The 260-year-old beech was planted on the border of forest compartments with different planting years. The tree was felled because it was being attacked by a giant fungus, and there was a great chance that the tree would collapse. "A new tree has been planted in its place," Stella explains. "There is a time capsule underneath with a message for the future. Pieces of the tree can still be found in the forest, around the place where it stood. The rest of the wood has been auctioned off. That money has been used for planting the new tree."

One of Stella's favourite spots is the Vischven. “This pond has been here since the Mastbos was created,” Stella explains. “It is a low spot in the forest, which naturally attracts water. There used to be ridges here, long raised areas where trees grew. Some of them have been removed, allowing nature to take its course again. Animals now have free rein here, especially since the pond has been fenced off. If you look closely, you can still see remnants of those ridges. This makes this place a beautiful blend of the past and the present.”

The story of the Mastbos is changing. "That's what I find beautiful about a forest," Stella says. "We at Staatsbosbeheer try our best to take good care of it for the future and to prepare it for the next generation. Sometimes this means that we have to remove trees to give other species more room to grow. Unlike in the past, we often leave fallen trees in place now. This provides nutrients for insects, and small animals can also seek shelter here. When do I really enjoy being a forest ranger? When I see people enjoying the forest in a respectful way. That's what it's all about."

It is not hundred percent certain where the name Mastbos comes from. 'Mast' could mean Scots pine, but at that time it was also the term for acorns as food for pigs. The Mastbos was also a production forest, and the wood was used for ship masts.