Exhibition: The subsurface of the Oostvaardersplassen

This drilling tells the story of this area from 70,000 years ago to the present. Visitors can see the exhibition in the Staatsbosbeheer visitor center at Kitsweg 1 in Lelystad.

A soil drilling in the Oostvaardersplassen

The landscape where the Oostvaardersplassen is now located has undergone all kinds of changes in recent centuries. These changes are reflected in the exhibition. The succession of different soil layers shows us what landscape changes the Oostvaardersplassen area has undergone. The specific characteristics of the layers - such as thickness, color, grain size and the remains of plants and shells - tell the conditions under which the different soil layers were formed and give an idea of their age.

Exhibition shows a beautiful history

Deputy Harold Hofstra: “It is still too often thought that Flevoland is a new country without history, but the exhibition actually shows a beautiful history of nature over the years. With this exhibition you can really see how this area has changed since the distant past. I am extremely proud that the Province of Flevoland, together with Staatsbosbeheer, is making a piece of history experienceable for visitors to Nieuw Land National Park.”

History excursions

Later in the year, visitors can book an excursion. During this excursion you will learn more about the history of the Oostvaardersplassen and, accompanied by a forester, you will walk straight into the Hollandse Hout to see the different layers in the ground on site. Keep an eye on this website for this.

Heritage in Nieuw Land National Park 

In the provincial Heritage Program Heritage of the Future, the province of Flevoland gives priority to better understanding our prehistoric landscape. How has it been developed and used over the years? Our heritage team has therefore commissioned Archol to carry out the drilling. The drilling was done by Fugro and described by landscape archaeologist Geuch de Boer. From the start of the project, Staatsbosbeheer has shown interest in including the geological drilling in the visitor center for a certain period of time, because together we can tell the long history of Flevoland.

Source: Province of Flevoland