The Hell and Blue Hell

Right under the smoke of Veenendaal lie two unique pieces of nature reserve, remnants of peat extraction in the past, together covering about 36ha. These areas owe their name to the peat extraction. A 'hel' is a hole in the ground, created after cutting peat. Both De Hel and De Blauwe Hel feature Sphagnum moss wetlands, blue grasslands, and quaking bogs, with their characteristic flora. Especially in late spring, various flowers shine on the flat heaths. Three types of orchids can be found here. The quaking bogs have many types of moss flora and are rare in the Netherlands. The peat layer literally floats on the water. It feels strange, a bit like walking on a waterbed. Unfortunately, you cannot experience that here in practice. Due to the fragile vegetation, the areas are not accessible. The best view of De Blauwe Hel (the name comes from the blue-green color of the plant the Blue Sedge) is from the Ketelweg.

De Wandelmaker