Netherlands Nature Atlas · 2026

Wild
Netherlands.

An immersive atlas of Dutch landscapes, wildlife, wetlands, dunes, forests and protected nature. Discover the places where water, land and life meet.

Start exploring ↗ View national parks
22 National parks
160+ Natura 2000 areas
7,000+ Species in Hollandse Duinen
∞ Stories to discover
01 / Landscapes

One country.
Many worlds.

The Netherlands is shaped by an extraordinary relationship between land and water. Dunes, forests, heathlands, peat, rivers and tidal landscapes create a surprisingly diverse natural world.

Featured ecosystem

The Dutch Wetlands

Water is everywhere. From tidal wetlands and reed beds to rivers, lakes and peat landscapes, Dutch nature is inseparable from its waterways.

Coast

North Sea Dunes

Forest

Veluwe & Heath

02 / Protected nature

National parks.

Explore some of the landscapes that define the Dutch natural world, from drifting sands and heathlands to tidal wetlands and the Wadden coast.

Gelderland

De Hoge Veluwe

Forests, heathlands, drifting sands and one of the country's most iconic landscapes.

Overijssel

Weerribben-Wieden

A remarkable wetland landscape of waterways, reed beds, lakes and peat.

Wadden Sea

Schiermonnikoog

Island nature where beaches, dunes, salt marshes and migratory birds meet.

Drenthe

Dwingelderveld

Vast heathland and peat landscapes with a strong sense of open space.

South Holland

Hollandse Duinen

A newly designated national park where dunes, beach, forest, city and sea come together.

North Brabant

De Biesbosch

A dynamic freshwater tidal landscape of creeks, wetlands and wildlife.

03 / Wildlife

Life between
land & water.

Dutch wildlife has adapted to forests, open heath, coastal dunes, rivers and wetlands. Some species are elusive, others can be discovered surprisingly close to cities.

Wildlife focus

The European fox

An adaptable predator found across many Dutch landscapes, from woodland edges to urban green spaces.

🦫

Beaver

A symbol of Dutch wetland restoration, closely associated with riverine landscapes such as De Biesbosch.

🦅

White-tailed eagle

One of Europe's most impressive birds of prey, increasingly associated with Dutch wetlands.

🦌

Red deer

A characteristic large mammal of Dutch forests and heathlands, especially the Veluwe.

🦭

Harbour seal

A familiar sight around the Wadden Sea and the Dutch North Sea coast.

🦉

Owl

Dutch woodland and agricultural landscapes provide habitat for several owl species.

🦋

Butterflies

Heathlands, meadows and flowering habitats support a remarkable variety of insects.

04 / Explore the country

Nature, mapped.

A visual overview of the major natural environments across the Netherlands. Select a region and start your next exploration.

Interactive atlas

Find your landscape.

Explore the natural character of the Netherlands from north to south.

Wadden & islands 01
Forests & heath 02
River landscapes 03
Dunes & coast 04
Wetlands 05
05 / Nature database

Go deeper.

Search the atlas by landscape, habitat or subject. This interface is designed as the foundation for a much larger nature database.

Try searching for dunes, forest, wetlands or wildlife.
06 / The story

A landscape
made by water.

Dutch nature cannot be separated from the history of water management, agriculture, settlement and conservation.

LAND & WATER

From sea to landscape

The Dutch landscape is a meeting point between natural processes and centuries of human interaction with water.

PROTECTION

A network of protected places

National parks and Natura 2000 areas form part of a wider approach to protecting important habitats and species.

2026

Hollandse Duinen joins the national parks

On 28 April 2026, Hollandse Duinen officially received national park status, becoming the 22nd Dutch national park.

THE FUTURE

Nature as infrastructure

The future of Dutch nature is about connecting habitats, improving biodiversity and creating a healthier relationship between cities, agriculture, water and wild landscapes.

Holland Nature Atlas

There is more wildness here than you think.

From a tidal creek in the Biesbosch to a silent heathland at sunrise, Dutch nature is compact, accessible and surprisingly diverse. Start exploring the atlas.

Explore the atlas ↗