Drents-Friese Wold National Park

The Drents-Friese Wold National Park is a national park in the Dutch provinces of Friesland and Drenthe, covering more than 61 km2, founded in 2000. It consists of forests, heath lands and drift-sands.

Landscape and history
It is sure that people lived in this area already in the Stone Age. In the landscape several graves from that time are visible. The present characteristics of the area are strongly influenced by the 'esdorp culture'. Farmers used the lands for grazing by their sheep. The continuous removal of minerals resulted in heathlands and sand-drifts. In the 19th century, the state started forestry programmes and species such as oak, pine, Douglas fir and Japanese larch were planted. These trees still cover a large part of the area. The brook Vledder Aa is one of the very few remaining natural brooks in the Netherlands.

Vegetation and wildlife
In the national park we find among others the European pine marten (Martes martes), the Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca), the Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus), the Viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara), the Common Raven (Corvus corax), Stiff clubmoss (Lycopodium annotinum) and Bog-rosemary (Andromeda polifolia).

Management
The most important management organisations for the park are: The rest of the park (400 ha) is managed by 80 private owners.
 * Staatsbosbeheer (State Forest Service), owns 4150 ha.
 * Natuurmonumenten (main Dutch private nature management organisation, owns 950 ha.
 * (private provincial nature management organisation, owns 450 ha.
 * Maatschappij van Weldadigheid (a 'society of beneficence'), owns 200 ha.

Recreation
The park contains many bike trails. In Appelscha, Hoogersmilde, and Diever are visitor and information centres.