Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: Ruinen

Echtens Paradijs (Paradise of Echten) is a 1,200-hectare nature reserve in the Ruinen forestry area. Originally virgin and inaccessible, the area was planted with coniferous forests in the 1930s; nowadays, these are increasingly being replaced by broad-leaved forests. Another part of the area consists of heathland, shifting sands and fens.

De Zaandplatte is a windmill in a hamlet called Engeland , just outside the village of Ruinen and nearby National Park Dwingelderveld . Its name is derived from its current location, a former piece of ferocious land with the name De Zaandplatte . It is a thatched, octagonal wooden ‘belt mill’ ( belt is a man made elevation) dating from 1964. Although originally the mill - dating back to the end of the 18th century - stood in the village of Echten and was in a bad state of dilapidation. It was demolished in 1962 and rebuilt and put back in operation about 9 km’s away on its current location. In the past Ruinen had thirteen windmills, De Zaandplatte is the only remaining one. Initially the rebuilt mill was used as a holiday home. After the restoration at the end of the 20th century the ownership of the mill was transferred by the municipality to a foundation Vrienden van de Ruiner Molen . Since then the mill is grinding again and is running on a voluntary basis. In 2007 De Zaandplatte was chosen as the most beautiful mill of the province of Drenthe. Although with limited hours, the mill is open for visitors.

Dwingelderveld is one of the about twenty national parks in the Netherlands and is the largest European wet heathland area. The national park - 3.700 hectares - has more than sixty shallow lakes and moors featuring a rich and unique flora and fauna. The gently rolling moors are habitat of many kinds of species of butterflies and birds. The northern part has been wooded with pine forests and juniper shrubs since the mid 19th century. Dwingelderveld is managed the Dutch forestry Commission ( Staatsbosbeheer ) and the private Dutch society for nature conservation Natuurmonumenten . The main picture shows the recently built lookout tower nearby the Benderse sheepfold, offering unique views over the vast heathlands (PiP) of the national park. This sheepfold houses a flock of the famous ‘Drenthe heath sheep’. See for more pictures of Dwingelderveld : www.ipernity.com/doc/294067/46551468

Dwingelderveld National Park is a heathland and woodland reserve of 3,700 hectares in the south-western part of the province of Drenthe in the Netherlands. It is Europe's largest wet moorland area, covered by numerous moors, idyllic fens and marsh flats featuring a wide variety of rare plants. And wet it was during our visit !!