National Park Zuid-Kennemerland | |
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Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland | |
IUCN category II (national park)
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Dunes in Zuid-Kennemerland National Park
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Map of the national park | |
Location | North Holland, Netherlands |
Nearest city | Haarlem |
Coordinates | 52°25′N 4°35′E / 52.417°N 4.583°ECoordinates: 52°25′N 4°35′E / 52.417°N 4.583°E |
Area | 3,800 ha (9,400 acres) |
Established | 1995 |
Visitors | 1.8 million (in 2008) |
http://www.np-zuidkennemerland.nl |
National Park Zuid-Kennemerland (Dutch: Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland) is a national park in the province of North Holland in the Netherlands and was established in 1995.
Dutch conservationist Jac. P. Thijsse first wrote about a possible national park between Bloemendaal and the North Sea Canal in 1944. As a result, the national park De Kennemerduinen was established in 1950.
The national park Zuid-Kennemerland was established in 1995. It comprised De Kennemerduinen, several nature reserves managed by Vereniging Natuurmonumenten and some other areas.
The park is situated west of Haarlem in the province of North Holland in the west of the Netherlands. It is located within the municipalities of Bloemendaal, Velsen, and Zandvoort. It includes the southern portion of the region known as Kennemerland.
South Kennemerland is characterized by sand dunes. The park, about 38 square kilometres (15 sq mi) in size, also includes some estates, forests on the dune fringes, and coastal beaches. The dunes used to be a watershed for the city of Haarlem. Large amounts have been won for consumption. In 2003 these activities were ceased allowing the groundwater-bubble to grow again. There is a small public swimming area open in the summer at a location called the Wed on the road between Bloemendaal and Zandvoort. The train from Zandvoort to Amsterdam travels through the park.
The park is owned and managed collectively by Vereniging Natuurmonumenten (Natural Monuments Association), Staatsbosbeheer (State Forestry), PWN (Water Supply Company North Holland), Province of Noord-Holland , IVN, and the surrounding municipalities and private owners.