The Netherlands is a green country, with many parks, and I’m not talking only about the national parks that are well known and visited by many throughout the year. There are so many smaller, recreational parks or natural reservations surrounding the different cities of the Netherlands!

Alkmaar, the city I call home nowadays, has a lot of beautiful natural areas surrounding it. I’m still discovering them, one by one — by bike for now (still trying to avoid the public transport as much as possible), and I can’t get enough of it! This little area I’m introducing to you today — Oudorperhout, is basically within the city limits. I don’t even need to cycle there; just a pleasant walk from the centre of Alkmaar and I’m there.

Oudorperhout is a water-rich park with meadows and six beautiful windmills. It’s a bird reserve and many birds and mammals have made their home here and they’re thriving. It’s a very peaceful and pretty place and a great spot for birdwatchers. The windmills are inhabited and you can visit them by appointment (or wait for the National Windmills Day when they are open for visitors!).

Oudorperhout used to be part of the Geestmerambacht polder, but this changed with the diking of the Heerhugowaard. In 1972, when the municipality of Alkmaar decided to expand, a big part of the polder was transformed into residential area. The part that remained became the park that is Oudorperhout today. It underwent a lot of renovation between 2001 and 2005, including the building of a water management system that helps protecting the wild flora and fauna.

I like to visit Oudorperhout when I’m too tired for a long cycling session; I would have a walk around the area, pay attention to all the new blooming flowers, watch the geese and sometimes walk till the neighbouring village of Oudorp. At the moment, the lakes are covered in water lilies and the canals are bordered by yellow irises; the swans and their cygnets complete the perfect picture. It’s also nice to follow the changes in this area throughout the seasons, to se how the flora and fauna change over the months. Sunrise is a beautiful moment to be there, the soft light falling on wild flowers and the canals, the birds waking up and starting making noise. We are fortunate to have this park so close to the city, just a short walk away, offering a serene escape into nature.

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Here you can find my photo book: Amsterdam Through the Seasons!