Bison Trail closed for the season

As of March 1st, the Bison trail is no longer open to the public during the bird nesting season. This annual closure is until September 1st, 2017. The past six months, for the fifth year in a row, visitors have been able to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Kraansvlak dune area and the beautiful nature in this closed-off area on the Bison trail: a footpath through the dunes marked with yellow poles. But favorite for most visitors is still to catch a glimpse of the European bison that live here since April 2007.

Normally the positions where the bison are located in Kraansvlak are indicated on this website. These positions are, however, until further notice not accessible to the public. This was decided because some visitors - especially during the last period before the annual closure - started to wander out on their own to search for the bison. After repeated warnings on this website and our social media, the GPS positions were removed from the website early in February. Kraansvlak is a resting area for which a code of conduct for visitors applies.

Not only the European bison have often been seen from the Bison Trail the past six months. Also konik horses, deer, foxes and many types of birds have been spotted. Typical dune birds such as Wheatear, Pipit, Fieldfare and Redwing have been identified, and also buzzard, hawk and kestrel, the hunters among the birds, have been observed several times. The ‘Bison trail volunteers’ made notes in the logbook of these specific observations. These volunteers play a highly valued role. Besides the registration of observations, they also give visitors additional information about the project.

People from abroad have discovered the Bison project in Kraansvlak. People from Germany, Belgium and even from Switzerland have paid a visit this year. But also hikers from Dutch regions such as Drenthe, Gelderland, Brabant and Limburg - in a group, as family members or just on a solitary walk - have paid a visit to the Kraansvlak dunes and its wildlife several times during the last half year.

From September 1st 2017, when the Bison Trail reopens, this opportunity is available again for everyone!