Pirate Island Bridge

Lepelaarplassen is a wetland nature reserve in Flevoland, between the cities of Almere and Lelystad on the shore of the Markermeer. The land is young. It was drained from the former Zuiderzee in the twentieth century, and the marshes, pools and reed beds that make up the reserve developed on soil that had been seabed only a few decades earlier. The name means spoonbill pools, after the large white wading birds with the spatula-shaped bills that breed here, and the reserve is known above all for its birds. It is a place of low, wide horizons, reeds and big skies, quite different from the clipped fields around it.

Within this landscape, bridges and boardwalks are a practical necessity, since the ground is wet and cut by ditches and channels. The Pirate Island Bridge is one of the features aimed at families. The idea is a small adventure for children, a wooden bridge that leads to an area on which the play equipment follows a pirate theme, so that a nature walk comes with a game attached. Details of the structure and of what stands on the island are not well documented, so it is best to treat what follows as a general guide and to look for signs on the ground. The principle is common in Dutch nature areas, where playful touches help children to enjoy places that might otherwise bore them.

The real draw remains the nature. Spoonbills nest in the reedbeds and the trees and can be seen feeding in the shallows, sweeping their bills from side to side through the water. Herons, egrets and other waders share the pools, and the reserve is a good place for geese and ducks in autumn and winter. In recent years, white-tailed eagles, the largest birds of prey in the country, have nested in the area, and a good pair of binoculars gives a chance of seeing them. Walking routes with observation points and hides let visitors watch without disturbing the birds.

Practical advice is simple. Wear waterproof shoes, since paths can be muddy, bring insect repellent in summer and take binoculars. Bicycles are very useful, because paths and dyke routes link the reserve with Almere and the Markermeer shore, and the Markermeer dyke route gives long views across the water. Keep to marked paths and keep dogs on a lead, especially in the breeding season.

The bridge and island suit families with young children, and the reserve suits birdwatchers, cyclists and walkers. A visit can last an hour or an afternoon. Spring and early summer are the best times for birds and for flowers along the paths.