Hiking route in National Monument Waterloopbos – The 8 most beautiful hikes along cultural heritage

This is a special route of approximately 3.5 km along a number of hydrodynamic models that are part of the National Monument Waterloopbos in Flevoland, a historic open-air laboratory in a beautiful polder forest. Hundreds of studies have been carried out here into the behavior of water since the 1950s. The forest is therefore full of remnants of research into delta works, all of which have been carried out in scale models.

The route starts at the parking lot on the Voorsterlaan, after which you walk towards the Waterloopbos and immediately turn left and cross the bridge. You arrive at the Delta Flume. This was constructed in the 1970s and used for research into dykes and breakwaters in rising water. This is also where the delta work is located, which provides insight into what has been done to strengthen our delta works and which has been used for the construction of the storm surge barrier.

You continue your way and pass research sites for the port of IJmuiden and that of Rotterdam, among other things. The latter in particular was a major client for the Waterloopkundig Laboratorium for many years. Many Rotterdam remnants can be found in the forest, such as the Willemstunnel and the Maasvlakte.
Also special is the research site for Libya's oil port, Marsha-el-Brega. This country came especially to the Waterloopkundig Laboratorium to ask for help in enlarging their oil port.

Thanks to the abundance of water in the forest, it is a Valhalla for animals and plants. Special is the kingfisher that is a permanent resident of the Waterloopbos. With a bit of luck you will see one.

At the end of the route you can settle down at restaurant Het ProefLab for a cup of coffee or a delicious lunch. The information point of Natuurmonumenten is also located here. Parking is easy on the large site on the Voorsterweg.