Dollard Estuary Near Nieuw Statenzijl, Holland Royalty-Free Stock Photo

The Dollard area, which borders the Eems estuary, came into existence between 1280 and 1550 approximately. Under the influence of growing environmental awareness, it was decided in 1975 not to reclaim any more of the Dollard and to designate it a nature reserve. The Dollard consists of mud flats, sandbanks, channels and salt marshes. It is one of Europe’s last brackish water tidal areas. In Nieuwe Statenzijl, at the edge of the Netherlands, there stands a bird watching hut, the ‘Kiekkaaste’. There you can watch the birds on the salt marshes and mud flats undisturbed.