Drentsche Aa National Landscape

Drentsche Aa National Park
Nationaal beek- en esdorpenlandschap Drentsche Aa
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
The Drentsche Aa
Map of the National Park
Location	Drenthe, Netherlands
Coordinates	53°3′N 6°39′E / 53.050°N 6.650°E / 53.050; 6.650Coordinates: 53°3′N 6°39′E / 53.050°N 6.650°E / 53.050; 6.650
Area	100 km2 (39 sq mi)
Established	2002 (2002)
Governing body	Het Overlegorgaan Nationaal beek- en esdorpenlandschap Drentsche Aa
www.drentscheaa.nl

The Nationaal beek- en esdorpenlandschap Drentsche Aa is a national park of the Netherlands located in the province of Drenthe on the west side of the Hondsrug. It consists of the cultural landscape surrounding the valley of the small river the Drentsche Aa. The landscape is currently nearly the same as it was in the mid 19th century, as the several agricultural landscape reforms of the 20th century were not implemented in this area. Because of this, many hedges, heathlands and traditionally managed fields ('essen' in Dutch) were spared from transformation. The national park is part of the (three times) larger national landscape Drentsche Aa.