Working together to ensure peace and quiet during the breeding season
The Municipality of Wassenaar is a proud partner of Hollandse Duinen National Park (NPHD). This year, too, we are asking for extra attention for the animals that live in nature. With the start of the breeding season in mid-March, a sensitive period begins for many animals. That is why Wassenaar is once again joining the public campaignHealth Hollandse Duinen National Park,” which invites residents and visitors to treat nature with care.
Vulnerable animals need rest
In the dunes, parks, and forests around Wassenaar, many animals give birth in the spring. Birds, foxes, roe deer, hedgehogs, and other mammals are busy during these months with breeding, building nests, and caring for their young. The period from March to September is one of the most intense and vulnerable phases in nature. Because the area attracts many visitors during these months, it is important to minimize disturbances as much as possible.
Wim Koetsier, Alderman , Mobility, and Sustainability, emphasizes the importance of working together: “Our Hollandse Duinen National Park is a unique and diverse landscape that everyone can enjoy all year round. Especially during the breeding season, when many animals are raising their young and are particularly vulnerable, it is important that we be extra vigilant. Through simple actions, we give animals the peace they need. Although these measures are not mandatory, they help enormously in protecting vulnerable animals in the park. In this way, we work together to ensure that this unique area remains livable and valuable for both people and nature.”
A growing campaign with strong engagement
The campaign uses recognizable signs to address visitors from the animals’ own perspective, with messages such as “This is where I hide my cub.” More and more municipalities and nature organizations are joining this campaign. Visitors are asked to stay on the trails, as this is familiar and predictable behavior for animals; to keep dogs on a leash so as not to stress wildlife; and to enjoy nature with respect. This way, animals can remain undisturbed, and nature and recreation can remain in balance.
