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Tij: a unique bird hide
A giant wooden egg crammed with natural wonders
The Haringvliet is home to a unique bird hide, a special place where you can experience the delta’s natural beauty at first hand. Tij is a giant, 7-metre-tall, egg-shaped bird hide that is reached via a tunnel. The access route and Tij itself provide a myriad of natural spectacles. Inside the Tij, you will be afforded some fantastic views across the wide expanse of the Haringvliet and a rich array of birdlife.
The hide is designed in the shape of a sandwich tern’s egg. The islands of the Haringvliet and the coast off Scheelhoek are home to large colonies of sandwich terns. In spring you can often see parent terns flying in with fish in their beaks to feed to their young. There are many other coastal birds that can be seen here too, such as common terns, spoonbills and great white egrets. And if you’re fortunate enough, you might just see a majestic white-tailed eagle poised above the water. The hide houses a telescope which can transform a spectacular sight into a truly sensational experience. Tij is a unique piece of ecologically constructed architecture.
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Plan your visit to Tij here
After visiting Tij, why not go to the place where the river meets the sea at Kwade Hoek?
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Tij as a starting point
Zoet of zout
At the crossover point between freshwater and saltwater you’ll find the restaurant of Zoet of Zout. The view from the patio and through its floor-to ceiling windows offers breathtaking vistas across the Haringvliet, the dam and the sluices. It’s just a ten-minute walk to Tij from here. www.zoetofzout.nl
A Seal
Sick seals or pups who have lost their mothers are rescued and affectionately cared for at A Seal. Want to see how? If so, check out the sanctuary and become a seal carer for the day. www.aseal.nl
Stellendam fish dock
Fishing boats bring their catches into port and then the sorting, weighing and auctioning begins! It’s well worth seeing and while you’re there, check out the auction too. There are guided tours of the fish dock every Friday in summer. More info
View of the Haringvlietdam
Close to Tij, at the Stellendam marina is Restaurant Loef. It has a magnificent view of the Haringvliet dam and the sluice gates. The latter enable salmon and other migrating fish to follow the river upstream from the sea to their spawning grounds. www.restaurantloef.nl/
Goereese Duinen cycle route (31 km)
This trail takes in coastal dunes and the nature reserve of Kwade Hoek. This is where the sea water encroaches inland though narrow channels and creeks. It provides a stark contrast with the impressive Haringvliet dam which can also be viewed here from the seaward side. Start at the TOP in Stellendam. More info
More nature of the Dutch Delta
NLDelta consists of a joined-up system of flourishing nature reserves. The water-rich ‘jungle’ of the Biesbosch is a unique freshwater-tidal zone, with a network of creeks, islands and morasses… Read more
