On Sunday 23 March, the nature guides of IVN Mark & Donge will walk through the water-rich and beautifully scenic Markdal.
This weekend is World Water Day. Globally, attention will be paid to water. Water is both our friend and enemy. Water is our primary necessity, as there is no life on Earth without it. Especially due to climate change, water has also become an adversary. Rising sea levels and extreme rainfall cause serious, sometimes disastrous problems.
In the Markdal, these issues are not as pronounced, but flooding has often occurred. Until around 1970, the Mark was a significantly meandering river. It was then channelled, deepened, and widened to carry more water away more quickly and thus prevent flooding in the city. Between Breda and the Belgian border, about 20 meanders were cut off and excavated; only a few remained as 'dead arms.' However, the rapid drainage of water proved to be disastrous for the groundwater levels and caused drying out, which the surrounding nature reserves have suffered from greatly. Moreover, periodic flooding in the city of Breda still persisted.
About 20 years ago, the valley between the Reeptiend and Ginneken was redeveloped with the aim of allowing the brook to meander again, to retain and store more water, and thereby initiate ecological restoration. Wide strips of arable land and intensively grazed and fertilised meadows were excavated. The valley now looks very open, with grasslands and floodplain areas. It has become a beautiful, green, and water-rich landscape.
On the steep banks of the restored meanders, sand martins and kingfishers breed every year. Years ago, a couple of storks discovered the Markdal. They have raised quite a number of chicks on the roof of the Grote Hoeve, the district office of Staatsbosbeheer.
After registering, you will receive information about the departure location.
