Flamingos and Zoutpannen

 

The stately flamingos live in the saltlands. From first light you see them fishing. They trail their beaks with the special filtermechanism across the bottom and suck up crayfish, molluscs, worms and algae. The carotenoids (colorants) in their food influence the beautiful pink tint which is the flamingos’ trademark.

From the Zoutpannen salt was produced mainly for export to Holland. Country estates Jan Kok and Rif Marie were built with the profits of this trade, which came literally about with harsh slave labour.

Nowadays the Zoutpannen as such are out of action.

A hike across the Zoutpannen to the ocean takes about 45-60 minutes. Hiking around the Zoutpannen and the decrepit landhuis Rif Marie will take about three hours. Mountainbiking across the Zoutpannen is also an attractive option.