De Slufter
De Slufter is without a doubt one of the most unique and iconic nature reserves in the Netherlands. Located on the northwest side of the Wadden Sea island of Texel, this is the only place in the Netherlands where the North Sea flows unimpeded onto the land at high tide. The result? A dynamic, ever-changing salt marsh landscape where the tides set the rhythm.
The Origin: A Failure That Turned Into a Success
The story of De Slufter is actually a wonderful example of how human failure can lead to a natural wonder. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, people repeatedly tried to dam the channel between the dunes to turn it into farmland. Nature, however, had other plans. During severe storms, the constructed dikes broke time and again. After yet another dike breach in 1910, the islanders gave up (and ran out of money). Humans withdrew, and the sea was given free rein. Since then, nature has managed itself.