| Nature |
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| 1. Natural values |
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Noordwijk is a municipality rich with nature both within its boundaries and in the surrounding area. The value of these areas has been acknowledged at European level: the Dunes of Noordwijk have a Natura 2000 status. Almost all of the
areas are accessible year-round for cyclists and hikers. There are excellent hiking possibilities in the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen, this is the biggest nature area open for walking in the west of the Netherlands and offers an escape from the busy urban areas.
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More beautiful walking and cycling routes lead to and through the hinterland of Noordwijk, revealing a typical Dutch landscape with bulb fields, estates and open grassland polders. The natural areas of Noordwijk house many unique animal and plant species, some of which are endangered. Especially endangered
birds flourish in the natural dune areas.
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| 2. Information and Education |
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Noordwijk Municipality’s territory comprises extensive nature reserves, which are being highly appreciated and valued by local inhabitants and visitors. The municipality has taken measures to let people enjoy the natural areas while
preserving nature. There are numerous walking trails and cycling paths through the natural areas of Noordwijk and it is possible to take part in excursions guided by a forester.
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Furthermore Noordwijk has a central nature information
centre, the Jan Verwey centre. Here volunteers give explanations to visitors and excursions to nearby reserves are organised.
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| 3. Contact with Nature |
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Of the 10 natural areas in and around Noordwijk (11 if one considers the beach and sea as well) 8 are open to the public and are easy accessible. The other two areas are private grounds or reserved for nature entirely. The beach that belongs to Noordwijk is 14 kilometres long and together with the dunes along the beach it is easy accessible for cyclists, hikers and on horseback. There are separate trails in the dunes for pedestrians, cyclists, mountain bikers and horseback riding. Furthermore a great part of the dunes are accessible on foot for off trail walking outside the bird
breeding season.
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Apart from the beach and dune area the bulb fields are a popular place to cycle through, the cycling routes throughout the Green Heart of Holland are accessible from Noordwijk.
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| 4. Green Policies |
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Noordwijk has a municipal policy for green areas: Green Corridors of Noordwijk (Groene verbindingen door Noordwijk). But all nature reserves are governed by national legislation or provincial policies. In addition the Noordwijk
coast has been identified to be a weak link in the chain of coastal defence. Therefore appropriate action has been taken to reinforce the coastline.
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This reinforcement has become an ecological corridor and part of the Main Ecological Network. A policy to ensure clean beaches but also enabling public events to be organized is present as well. |
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| 5. Open Landscapes |
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Less than 20% of the surface area of Noordwijk is built up land; the other part is either nature, agriculture or sea. The dunes will remain dunes, no construction will take place there; the same goes for the bulb fields. Noordwijk has agreed
with a number of municipalities in the region that the building of houses will not be at the cost of bulb fields and natural areas. This means that innovative solutions have to be found and the remaining open areas must be used wisely.
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