Natuurpark Lelystad

Natuurpark Lelystad is a large nature reserve on the edge of Lelystad, the main town of Flevoland. The province itself is new land, drained from the old Zuiderzee in the twentieth century, and the area around the town was once the bed of the sea. Parts of the polder were left to develop naturally, and this park is one of them. It was set up in the early 1970s in partnership with Amsterdam's Artis zoo, and its original aim was to provide space for large grazing animals, which need a lot of room and are difficult to keep in a normal zoo.

The park's work has had real conservation value. It took part in programmes to breed and return animals that had become rare, among them the Przewalski's horse, the last truly wild horse, which had vanished from the wild and was successfully reintroduced to the steppe of Mongolia from stock held in European parks. European bison, once close to extinction, have also been bred here and sent to reserves across the continent. Together with other large mammals such as elk, Père David's deer, red deer and wild boar, these animals live in large enclosures that look like natural habitat rather than a zoo.

The landscape is open and varied. Woods of deciduous trees, grassland, wetlands and ponds make up the park, and a network of paths for walkers and cyclists winds through it. Visitors can watch the animals from the paths and viewing points, and the distances mean that animals may be far away, so binoculars are very useful. Wild species also live in the park, including roe deer, foxes, otters and beavers, and the wetlands attract many birds. Storks, spoonbills, kingfishers and birds of prey are among the species that may be seen, and the changing seasons bring different visitors to the water.

A visitor centre gives information and maps, and the staff can advise where to look. The park is free to walk in, though there may be a small charge for parking. Spring brings young animals and nesting birds, autumn brings the deer rut and migrating geese, and winter has long views over frosty fields.

The park suits families, nature lovers, photographers and cyclists. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water and binoculars, and allow two to three hours. It combines well with the Oostvaardersplassen reserve nearby, and with Batavialand and Aviodrome in Lelystad. Check current access information before going.