Kingfisher Wall Berendonck - Wijchen

In the fen region with the Overasseltse and Hatertse Vennen and the Wijchensche Vennen, you’ll also find Berendonck. Unlike the fens, which formed naturally thousands of years ago, the lakes of Berendonck have a much more recent origin. In the 1960s and 70s, sand was extracted here for the construction of motorways and building projects. The deep pits that remained filled with groundwater and developed into a large recreational area with beaches, forests and facilities.

On the southern side of Berendonck, a special kingfisher wall has been built: a safe nesting site for one of the most colourful birds in the Netherlands. A kingfisher needs three things in its habitat: enough fish and aquatic insects to feed on, peace and quiet, and a steep sandy wall in which to dig a nest tunnel. At Berendonck, food and peace were already available, but suitable nesting places were missing. That’s why Leisurelands, IVN Rijk van Nijmegen and Natuur Wijchen installed an artificial wall here.

The wall is filled with sand and has openings at the front. Behind these, kingfishers can dig tunnels sometimes up to half a metre deep, where they build their nest and lay their eggs. You can observe the wall from a distance, and an information panel tells you more about the bird and its behaviour. With a bit of luck, you’ll see the bright blue bird dart low over the water, it’s the kingfisher, now hopefully finding a permanent home here.