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Re-wilding Safari Part #2 Oostvaardersplassen: From abandoned industrial swamp-land to White-tailed Eagle territory.
- Beatrice Jeavons
- May 15
- 10 min read
The second blog in our Rewilding Safari series written by our Impact Manager Beatrice Jeavons, sharing learnings from her research trip to world-leading rewilding and regenerative agriculture projects across Europe and the UK. Bea's research is supporting FEAT.'s expansion into financing conservation and biodiversity projects in 2025, which we now consider to be a dual mandate alongside our clean energy mission.
Netherlands, October 2024
It’s a crisp, breezy Thursday afternoon, and the air is thick with the earthy smell of cow manure and damp soil. I’d just arrived at Oostvaardersplassen (OVP), a nature reserve just outside Amsterdam in the Netherlands, known as one of the world’s most ambitious—and controversial— restoration projects.
After weeks of researching “Oostvaardersplassen” and practising the Dutch pronunciation of the name (Oost-vaar-ders-plas-sen—almost unpronounceable for English speakers), I finally had the chance to visit. I was here as part of my research fellowship looking into Rewilding and how the arts and cultural sectors can play a role in supporting these types of projects (see our last blog post for more info on this).
On arrival, I was met by Hans-Erik Kuypers, the lead forester with Staatsbosbeheer, the Dutch agency managing Oostvaardersplassen. Hans welcomed me with a big smile and a strong handshake. We stepped into the ranger’s office; the walls lined with gumboots and large maps detailing the reserve.
Over hot coffee, I told Hans a little more about FEAT, our work and how I ended up there. My main goal for the visit was to better understand how projects like those in Oostvaardersplassen—focused on restoring natural processes and wildlife habitats—could benefit from increased visibility, community engagement and advocacy driven by the cultural sector. As well as what best practice looked like on the ground and how all their great work was being funded.
As far as nature-induced restoration projects go, where animals help to restore natural balance, Oostvaardersplassen is one of the world's most pioneering projects. They existed long before Rewilding was even a term, and they’ve learnt over the years from the project's successes and challenges, so I was in good hands.
How Oostvaardersplassen came to be is an interesting and inspiring story. Way back in the late 60s, the area was originally destined for industrial purposes. However, due to the oil crisis at the time, it wasn't economical to proceed, so the plans were stopped in their tracks, and the area was left alone. Because its low altitude, the area stayed wet and formed a swamp where huge populations of birdlife began to move in, feed and nest there. Finding refuge in an otherwise built-up and developed area. Among these arrivals was the Greylag Geese, whose grazing opened up the reedbeds in the marshland and provided a new habitat for aquatic life and other bird species to move in.
Years later, when the site construction plans were revamped, a passionate group of local ecologists led by Frans Vera convinced the Dutch Government of a better idea - to protect and preserve the area for wildlife. Along with support from the bird-loving locals, amazingly, their advocacy efforts were successful, and OVP came to be.
The goal of this newly established nature reserve was to provide a home for bird species, both breeding and migratory and to do so with minimal human management. Giving the ecosystem the space and time for their natural processes to recover.
It might not sound so groundbreaking in a 21st-century context, but reclaiming a plot of industrial land and giving it back to nature was way ahead of its time in the late 60s. This type of land restoration has since been called ‘Rewilding’, inspiring a movement that’s sweeping Europe and the U.K. While the OVP team don’t use the term Rewilding, and prefer nature reserve in which a number of projects are taking place to optimise the area for biodiversity and bird life. But the goals are fundamentally the same. To protect nature, maintain healthy ecosystems, and restore biodiversity.
We finished our coffees and set off in an old Land Cruiser to explore the project (the only diesel vehicle they have left amongst their otherwise electric fleet). We drove past a large patch of willow trees suffocating the banks of a small stream. Hans pointing out that this is what things look like without grazing animals.
A key part of the restoration process at Oostvaardersplassen involved reintroducing free-roaming herbivores. Since the late 1980s, Konik horses (a hardy, semi-wild breed that originated from Poland), Heck cattle (a breed of domestic cattle that were selectively bred in Germany), and red deer have been introduced to OVP to mimic the grazing patterns of extinct megafauna like aurochs and wild horses and - much like that of the resident geese—helps prevent overgrowth by fast-growing species like willows and reeds. Instead, an open wood forest (zachthoutooibos in Dutch) is formed, characterised by thorny bushes and birch and provides a varied habitat supporting a rich diversity of insects and birdlife. Making OVP a critical refuge for wildlife in an otherwise developed landscape.
During a particularly harsh winter, the herbivore populations in the reserve exceeded the available food supply, leading to starvation. This was partly due to an abundant food supply the previous summer, which had allowed numbers to rise significantly. This situation sparked debates over intervention and management strategies, leading to the establishment of a structured policy framework by the provincial government.
Under this policy, the number of large roaming herbivores—including red deer, konik horses, and heck cattle— are now reduced annually to maintain a stable population of 1,100 animals each spring. Red deer are culled, with some carcasses intentionally left in the field to support scavengers such as foxes, ravens, and bald eagles, as well as insect populations. While the konik horses are first offered to other nature reserves in the Netherlands or Europe, those that cannot be relocated are taken to slaughter. Heck cattle, however, cannot enter the food chain due to regulatory restrictions, so they are culled in the field.
The team takes great care in the culling process, ensuring that herds are not separated to minimise stress. "Family dynamics are very important, and we need to respect that," Hans explains, emphasising the ethical considerations behind the management decisions.'
As we bounced along the dirt road, the view started to open up in front of us— huge flocks of birdlife across the expansive grassland dappled in the morning light. I could see why OVP has been likened to the European Serengeti.
OVP is internationally recognised as a haven for birdlife and is currently home to over 78 different species, including the iconic sea eagle, greylag and barnacle geese, spoonbill, cormorants, egrets, and many species of ducks. Franz would stop the car mid-sentence, tossing the binoculars at me and exclaiming, “Grits! Look there!” excitedly, pointing out a flock of birds on the horizon. His passion and enthusiasm for the birdlife was infectious. “Beautiful, aren’t they? Just beautiful”.
Restoration near a densely populated city
Whilst the project hasn’t been without controversy, Oostvaardersplassen (OVP) has achieved remarkable success. Transforming what was once slated for industrial use into a thriving biodiversity haven. Attracting bird lovers, nature enthusiasts, tourists, school groups and scientists from around the world. And it’s definitely worth celebrating. As David T. Schwartz from Rewilding Earth puts it, ‘They have caught the public’s imagination concerning what is possible for our environmental future.’
Hans and I spoke about some of this controversy, notably the strong backlash that came from the hands-off approach to conservation during that particularly harsh winter, which caused many of the cattle and horses to starve. ‘Communicating the complexity and nuance of what real nature restoration looks like isn’t always easy’. Hans told me, admitting that he finds social media a problematic platform through which to share the whole story of what’s going on here because of how polarising these spaces can be. Instead, they share project updates on their monthly blogs, where ‘pictures can say a thousand words’, Hans points out. ‘We try to pay deep attention, listen to feedback and learn from mistakes.
‘It’s kind of like a painting,’ Hans said, pointing out OVP’s boundary. ‘We provide the frame and the canvas, and nature fills it in. We need to embrace the surprises that are part of that process. We can’t control the endpoint, but we also wouldn’t want to’.
We stopped and got out to stretch our legs. Hans bent down to pick up some wild mint that was sprawled in amongst a thicket of tall grasses.
Despite being surrounded by birdlife and the expansive horizon, there are reminders of the project's proximity to a large and built-up area. Powerlines in the distance, trains rushing past and planes flying overhead.
Their location is also what makes OVP unique. It’s a bustling, bird-life haven, only an hour from Amsterdam, the capital of one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. They have not only managed to restore this patch of land but have also done so in the midst of such an urbanised area. On one side of the fence is industrial farmland dotted with wind turbines and built-up suburbia. But here, on the other side of the fence, nature is poppin’. It’s quite the contrast.
What is Nature? Cultural attitudes towards the living world
Rewilding projects are gaining traction globally, from the Iberian highlands in Spain to pollinator corridors transforming Melbourne’s streets. But, these projects still face many challenges in terms of funding and public support.
One theme I am quickly discovering is that for projects like this to succeed, we also need to restore our relationship with the natural world and remember we are part of nature, not separate from it. It’s about reimagining our place in an interconnected web of life that includes everything from the atmosphere and oceans to animals, plants, and soil, clean air, water and plants that we humans rely on for life on this planet.
The Arts and Cultural sectors have a unique and important opportunity to support this change. We have the power to influence mindsets, connect emotionally, and shift perspectives—encouraging people to see themselves as part of the natural world. The arts have always played a critical role in cultural change. In the words of Brian Eno (British musician, composer, environmentalist and founder of Earth Percent), ‘Art tells us what’s cool and what’s outdated’. Culture informs so much about how and why we value something.
As Rewilding Europe puts it, ‘Rewilding isn’t just ecological; it’s a mindset. And the hugely important but often forgotten part of this transition is about behaviour and cultural change. Art can be a profound way to advocate for policy, inspire collective responsibility, and emphasise the long-term need for ecosystem protection.’
Hans and I spoke about this, and he agreed strongly that a very important, albeit often forgotten, part of the rewilding process is getting the message out there and communicating the work on the ground. Especially in a way that makes sense and invites meaningful community engagement. This ability to tell these stories in a way that inspires emotional and financial investment is a skill that artists (musicians, writers, videographers etc) are usually quite good at.
Finance
After the tour of the nature reserve, I was buzzing and still had a few questions. We sat down back down in their cosy office for more coffee. I was especially curious about how Oostvaardersplassen funds such a large operation, which employs 15 people. 8 full-time foresters/rangers and staff working within the Visitor Center, a researcher, a provincial consultant, project leaders and a coordinating manager. The answer was simpler than expected: “We receive 50% from government subsidies, with the other half coming from tourism, visitor fees, donations and Natura 2000 funding—a European network of protected nature reserves,” Hans explained. “Our main focus is to boost biodiversity, so as long as we maintain and improve healthy ecosystems, the funding continues. It’s evaluated as good, not so good, or needing improvement.” While nature does most of the work, Hans points out, these projects still need a lot of funding to kick start and maintain the process. In the case of Oostvaardersplassen, the government plays a big role, and it’s working.
Back in Australia, despite our commitments to the UN's biodiversity goals to protect 30% of the planet’s land and seas by 2030, so far, funding announcements for threatened species have been hugely inadequate and minute in comparison to the billions of dollars spent annually in fossil fuel subsidies. Only 0.1% of the current federal budget is allocated to nature repair…
It’s clear that there’s a strong need for new funding pathways, we’re working on an existing new project at FEAT HQ to address this (more on that later…)
Conclusion:
After visiting Oostvaardersplassen and meeting Hans, I had a lot to digest. But one thing was pretty clear. These solutions work, nature is pretty incredible at doing what it’s designed to do, but us humans desperately need to lend a helping hand. We need all hands on deck to mobilise the funding and support for the protection and restoration of nature in all its forms and flavours.
And the ‘all hands’ isn’t just about the practical restoration work on the ground. It’s about how we fund and advocate for these projects within communities, along with robust policy change to ensure the degradation and destruction of nature don't happen in the first place.
To create a fairer, more regenerative future, we need big, bold ideas, creative solutions and different ways of doing things. Projects like Oostvaardersplassen push the boundaries of what’s possible whilst showing that the restoration process isn’t always straightforward. Allowing nature the time and space to flourish on its own terms often involves a messy and adaptive process. There are no silver bullets, and this often requires patience and the flexibility to learn from setbacks.
Nature restoration is far more than just preserving landscapes—it’s about reshaping how we view our role within these ecosystems and community efforts. The rewilding narrative not only tells the story of a richer, more vital tomorrow but also encourages practical action and collaboration today. The benefits aren’t only for the many species to thrive but also for humans. We need the grasses and wetlands just as much as they do.
Resources:
Elizabeth Kolbert’s 2014 New Yorker article “Recall of the Wild”,
David T. Schwartz, European Experiments in Rewilding: Oostvaardersplassen
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