In Marickenland near Vinkeveen, the province of Utrecht, the municipality of De Ronde Venen, Staatsbosbeheer and the Amstel, Gooi and Vecht Water Board have transformed 150 hectares of pasture into marsh and flower-rich grassland. A large nature playground has also been created for children to play in nature. On March 11, 2026, the new nature area with the nature playground was officially opened.
Marickenland is located in the Groot-Mijdrecht polder and now forms an important connection between surrounding nature areas: the Vinkeveen and Nieuwkoop lakes and the Natura 2000 area Botshol. The nature area is an expansion of the Dutch Nature Network (NNN) and offers vulnerable plants and animals more living space. This 150 hectares of nature completes subarea 1 and is the first step of a total of 300 hectares of new nature.
Deputy of the Utrecht Rural Area Program Has Bakker: “This nature development required patience and commitment from all involved, but the result is impressive. Marickenland connects nature areas and thus contributes to stronger nature, more biodiversity and recreation. We entrust the management to Staatsbosbeheer with confidence and hope many people will enjoy this beautiful, future-proof nature area.”
How does new nature work?
In recent years, nature development has taken place in Marickenland. For example, four marsh blocks have been created: pieces of land that remain wet due to a raised water level. To strengthen biodiversity, low dikes have been built around the marsh blocks, allowing the water level to be gradually raised. This creates variation between water, reed and wet grasslands, making the marsh blocks attractive to reed birds such as the great reed warbler. Other animals such as the bittern and plants such as orchids and the great mullein also feel at home here. And perhaps the otter will quickly find this new nature as well.
In other parts of the area, the nutrient-rich top layer of the soil has been removed. This may sound strange, but it increases the variety of plants and insects such as bees and butterflies: flowers, herbs and plants they are attracted to thrive well on ‘poorer’ soil. Furthermore, new waterways and fish passages have been created and ditches widened. All this contributes to a healthy and varied water system.
Nature playground Vikingsveen
Visitors can fully enjoy this versatile area thanks to walking routes and a nature playground. The Vikingsveen nature playground is located on the edge of the nature area, behind the Veenlanden College in Vinkeveen. Children can play among special wooden sculptures of animals and experience nature up close. Children from the area contributed to the design of the nature playground. Among the reeds, cattails and other marsh plants are various wandering paths and routes that invite discovery. Vikingsveen offers plenty of challenge and hours of play fun for children and parents.
Cooperation and management
The first subproject of 150 hectares was realized thanks to close cooperation between the province of Utrecht, the municipality of De Ronde Venen, Staatsbosbeheer and the Amstel, Gooi and Vecht Water Board. Staatsbosbeheer will manage the area. The nature playground is managed and maintained by the municipality of De Ronde Venen.
For press information:
cor.van.der.leemputten@provincie-utrecht.nl
06 14 75 81 45