Loonse en Drunense Duinen and Moerputten

The Landscape

The Loonse and Drunense Duinen, together with the nearby Vughtse Heide and the area around the IJzeren Man, form a diverse landscape of drifting sands, pine forests, heathlands, and recreational waters. The Duinen are among the largest drifting sand areas in Western Europe, featuring wide sandy plains, open heath, and extensive pine forests. The ever-shifting sands and wind keep the landscape dynamic and open. In the Vughtse Heide and around the IJzeren Man, forests, heath, and water bodies alternate to create a varied natural setting. The Vughtse Heide also has a rich history, with traces of military use and memorial sites near the National Monument Kamp Vught. The IJzeren Man area offers plenty of recreational opportunities in a green and accessible environment.

To the west of ’s-Hertogenbosch lie the Moerputten, a rare remnant of an extensive low-lying peat marsh. Due to the high water levels, a wet and marshy nature reserve has developed here, featuring vast reed beds, swamp forests, and flower-rich meadows. The area is of great importance for marsh birds, butterflies, and rare plant species. Directly adjacent is the Vlijmens Veen, a smaller but ecologically valuable area. Here, moist grasslands, ponds, wet woodlands, and damp hayfields alternate. Together, the Moerputten and Vlijmens Veen form a continuous marshland that serves as an important resting and breeding ground for meadow and water birds.