De Wilck - East

On the Vierheemskinderenweg in Hazerswoude is the screen 'De Wilck oost'. From this viewing screen you have a view of the peat meadow landscape of the Natura 2000 area 'De Wilck'. In the spring, many water and meadow birds stay here. In winter you can enjoy the small swans, great egret, many wigeons and various types of geese. The screen is on an earthen embankment and, due to a staircase, is unfortunately not accessible for wheelchair users.

Every year, dozens of small swans settle in nature reserve De Wilck between Hazerswoude and Zoeterwoude to spend the winter. To give the little swans the rest they need, Staatsbosbeheer closes this Natura 2000 area in the Green Heart as soon as the little swan arrives. The thousands of wigeons, golden plovers, starlings and colt geese that also stay there in the winter months also benefit from the tranquility. Visitors are welcome to come and watch the large groups of birds from the bird watching screens.

A moment to look forward to: the arrival of the little swans in De Wilck. The birds have travelled a distance of 3,500 kilometres from their breeding grounds in North Russia to hibernate in the Netherlands. In groups of sometimes more than a hundred snow-white birds, they use the lake in De Wilck as a place to sleep at night. During the day they fly out over the polders to look for food.

During the breeding season of the meadow birds (15 March to 15 June) this nature reserve is not accessible.

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