the harbor entrance
the bridge to one of the other islands is off limits for visitors
Marker Wadden is build by the world famous Dutch company Boskalis. This is their HQ at the islands
when you climb the Steltloper watchtower you are rewarded with a nice view over the new land
the newly created wetlands. Plants are already claiming the fertile soil
there are basic facilities and even a small cafe for coffee
Marker Wadden are part of the new National Park Nieuw Land ( meaning New Land)
newly planted reet, a work in progress
one of the small and shallow pools
on the fence of the birdwatching facility Lepelaar (White Spoonbill) we spot a White Wagtail
work in progress
Marker Wadden in September 2018

Most of the building material for the Marker Wadden Project comes from Lake Markermeer itself. Cutter dredges sucked up silt, sand and clay from the muddy bottom and deposited it layer on layer and the islands emerged from the water only a few months after work started in 2016.

Phase one covered the creation of five islands with a carefully designed layout of sandbanks, ridges, marshlands, creeks and shallow water pools. Reet was planted to further improve the stability of the sediments .

Mother Nature wasted no time and soon
the first wild plants appeared, small fish and plankton populated the shallow waters and thousands of birds showed up.

By the end of September 2017 about 90 species of birds were counted and Common Tern, Clod and Plovers had even successfully bred here.

On the main island a harbor, footpaths, a watchtower and several birdwatching facilities were constructed.
 In
September 2018 Marker Wadden was officially opened to the public 

On the last day of that month we were one of the first to visit this new, fully man-made nature reserve.

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our first glimpse of Marker Wadden as we approach from the west
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one of the thriving wild plants is the Swamp Ragwort (Senecio congestus)
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this is the Duikeend, one of the birdwatching facilities
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the characteristic silhouette of the Steltloper dominates the view
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elevated walkways will keep your feet dry
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