Wetlands
Reed beds and lakes
Reed warblers, bitterns and marsh harriers are typical here, while open water attracts ducks and grebes in winter.
Netherlands
Birding in the Netherlands
A small, densely populated country with an outstanding mix of polders, dunes, estuaries and woodland, and a year-round calendar of birds to match.
A landscape made for birds
Much of the Dutch countryside lies below sea level and is shaped by water management. Ditches, meadows and reed beds create the conditions that draw breeding waders and wintering geese in large numbers.
- Polders with breeding meadow birds in spring
- Estuaries and tidal flats rich in migrating waders
- Dunes and coastal scrub for passerines in autumn
Habitats to explore
Three habitats that reward a visit in every season.
Coast
Dunes and coast
Autumn migration brings thrushes, finches and pipits to the dune belt, with seabirds offshore on calm days.
Woodland
Woodland edges
Forest edges and old oak stands hold woodpeckers, tits and visiting owls, best explored early in the morning.
Field tips
A
Follow the seasons
Spring favours breeding birds, autumn brings migrants and winter concentrates waterfowl on open lakes.
B
Use the wind
Open polders are best watched with a light breeze at your back, which keeps the birds moving toward you.
C
Keep your distance
Many meadow birds nest on the ground, so stay on paths and observe from the road where signs ask you to.
Seasonal calendar
Spring
Breeding season
Meadow birds sing from fence posts and display over the grassland.
Summer
Reed and wetland activity
Warblers and herons are most visible while young birds fledge.
Autumn
Migration peak
Waders, passerines and raptors move through the coastal zone.
Winter
Waterfowl and geese
Large flocks gather on lakes and farmland across the country.
Not always. Many sites are well signposted, but a local guide helps with finding specialities and understanding the water levels.
Late April to June for breeding birds, and September to November for migration. Winter suits waterfowl enthusiasts.
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