The status 'National Park' can be viewed as the ‘Michelin Star’ for beautiful, inviting nature reserves. Together the parks constitute Dutch nature’s calling card. They occupy a special place in Dutch nature policy.

The national parks were appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality over the past 30 years with the exception of De Hoge Veluwe and Veluwezoom which arose around 1930 thanks to private initiatives.

Objectives

The parks’ landscapes differ considerably, but their objectives are the same. All the national parks aim to:

• Protect and develop nature and landscape 
• Provide nature-oriented recreation 
• Provide education and information 
• Research
  

Landscapes

National parks are relatively large nature areas (at least 1,000 hectares). This is why most parks are home to multiple types of landscape. Aeolian sands and woodlands or peat bog and heathland, for example. Nevertheless, all the sites have their own character which is, among other things, due to the soil type (sand, clay, peat) or former uses (peat cutting, agriculture, timber production).

Geology also plays an important role in landscapes (ice-pushed ridges, river valleys). People who visit every Dutch national park will have gained a good impression of nature in the Netherlands.