5x things to do in Flevoland nature

22 April 2025 | Reading time: 5 minutes | By: Amanda |

It is relatively unknown that Flevoland consists largely of nature reserves. In fact, what is special about the nature in Flevoland is that it is relatively new compared to other nature areas in the Netherlands. This is because Flevoland, and thus the first bits of nature in this province, were created by human hands just under 40 years ago. NP Nieuwland including the Marker Wadden and Oostvaardersplassen is therefore the largest man-made nature park in the world. Whereas not long before, it was just the bottom of the Zuiderzee. That's pretty impressive, if you ask me. So plenty to discover! In this blog, I tip you off to five activities to do in the Flevoland countryside.

In a three-person canoe, you’ll paddle a 10-kilometre route through the Almeerderhout. This is the beaver’s habitat. Along the way, you’ll spot beaver tracks and lodges, and the guide will tell you all about the life of this large rodent. The beaver is one of the Dutch Big Five, alongside the red deer, the roe deer, the wild boar and the seal. Flevoland, together with the Biesbosch in North Brabant and the Millingerwaard in Gelderland, is home to the beaver (but roe deer also live here).

The Big Five Safaris can be found throughout the Netherlands and are wonderful nature experiences. I’ve therefore added ‘ticking off all the safaris’ to my new ‘favourite things to do’ list. I can certainly tick the one in Flevoland off my list.

Several trips leave every month, so keep an eye on the website for the current dates.

Nature is Flevoland is just really beautiful and with photography as a passion, I can't help but add this workshop to my tips. This workshop starts with a bit of theory: how to work with exposure, how to photograph movement, think about composition, etc. Then you take a walk through the New Wilderness or, in other words: the Oostvaardersplassen. With camera at the ready, it will be quite a challenge to capture all the special inhabitants of this nature reserve.

All year round, this workshop takes place on request with photographer Servan Ott. For more information and prices, please click here.

Tulpeiland in Zeewolde is not just any island - it is an island in the shape of a tulip! Located on the Wolderwijd, it gives a beautiful view of the surrounding tulip fields.

It really is a visual spectacle and therefore also a popular hotspot for photography. Especially during the tulip season in spring, when the island is the star of the Tulip Route Flevoland. Walk or cycle along the colourful fields and be enchanted by the floral splendour.

Do you love flowers? Then you really must visit Hanneke's Pluktuin in Biddinghuizen. From April to September, this one-and-a-half hectare garden (that's about two football fields!) is full of flowers that you can pick yourself. You walk among the field bouquets as if you had landed in a painting.

And after picking? Then join us in the cosy greenhouse for coffee, tea and something sweet. Chances are that apple pie has just come out of the oven.

Good to know: admission is free, you only pay for what you take home.

For a real adventure, the Nieuw Land Experience is truly unique. You set off into the Netherlands' youngest national park: National Park Nieuw Land, created entirely by people at the bottom of the old Zuiderzee. That alone is bizarre to imagine.

You board a bus or a boat with a guide who knows everything about nature and the history of Flevoland. You drive past places like the Oostvaardersplassen, the Marker Wadden and the Markermeer. Along the way, you might see red deer, konik horses and if you are lucky... the bald eagle!

Tip: bring binoculars! There is so much to see, even if you are not a birdwatcher.