As I mentioned earlier, the Netherlands is not home to any bizarre or exotic species. Nevertheless, when you journey outside of city boundaries, you encounter unique beauty. In this post, instead of focusing on one plant or animal, I would like to share my experiences in nature at two National Parks, Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennermerland and Nationale Park de Hoge Veluwe.
The habitats in these two parks are home to a variety of special flora and fauna. In Zuid-Kennermerland, the nutrient-poor soil results in many bush and shrub species, including buckthorns, hawthorns and dog roses. These types of plants provide safety to many birds and insects. For example, the park is a popular breeding ground for nightingales. There are also larger herbivores (plant-eating animals), such as horses, deer and wisents. What is a wisent? A wisent, or European bison, is the largest living land mammal in Europe! It is related to the American bison. While I did not see many mammals in the parks, I did have the opportunity to take a picture with a wisent!
