Renewed nature Natuurbelevingcentrum de Oostvaarders officially opened

The renovated Nature Experience Centre at the Oostvaarderplassen in Almere was officially opened today. The existing building has been extended as more and more visitors come to enjoy the adjacent nature reserve. The building is larger, has been redesigned and the old part has been completely refurbished.

A new wing was added during the construction work. This includes a new section with extra space for catering and two group rooms for nature education and meetings. A workshop for the Forestry Commission has also been created, from which the area can be managed. In addition, a shed for electric excursion vehicles such as buggies and cars has been built. Visitors are guided around the Oostvaardersplassen with these vehicles.

Natuurbelevingcentrum de Oostvaarders is located on the Almere side of the Oostvaardersplassen. The area is part of National Park Nieuw Land and is attracting more and more nature lovers. Alderman Maaike Veeningen (Almere): "Our city is growing and that means more and more visitors to National Park Nieuw Land. To continue receiving all visitors properly, the expansion was badly needed. So our residents can continue to enjoy nature nearby and make use of the facilities. The same goes for visitors to the city from home and abroad. I am happy that the building has been expanded and refurbished. Our city and the area has thus been strengthened with a beautiful recreational facility, which has been erected with consideration for nature in the adjoining area."

Deputy Harold Hofstra is also pleased with the centre's expansion: "De Oostvaarders is one of the main destinations for tourists visiting Nationaal Park Nieuw Land. The park is one of Flevoland's tourist pearls and we expect that, as the park develops and becomes more well known, more and more visitors will come, including people from outside the region and abroad."

For Staatsbosbeheer, the renovated and expanded Nature Experience Centre provides a stage for strengthening nature education and experiences of the Oostvaardersplassen. Director Boudewijn Revis: "The building now offers more possibilities as a starting point for numerous excursions through the adjacent forest areas and the core area of the Oostvaardersplassen. In addition, volunteers and managers will also find a place from which the gate area can be maintained."

"At the Nature Experience Centre, we have been working very closely with Staatsbosbeheer, the municipality of Almere and Almere City Marketing for a couple of years now on the expansion of the building and the further development of the area," said Liesbeth Bronkhorst, director-director of Stad & Natuur. "We also work closely with Paviljoen de Oostvaarders, which provides catering services, and the Bird and Nature Watch Flevoland is active in our building. With all these parties, we can let very diverse audiences enjoy nature, from school classes to group meetings. Our volunteers are indispensable for this."

Dining with a view
The old part of the building has been rearranged. Downstairs is a reception area with information point, shop and exhibition. The restaurant has been enlarged. Here, visitors enjoy local delicacies or a full meal with a view of the Oostvaardersplassen. Upstairs is the staff office. The Auditorium and meeting room are still the same, but have been refreshed.