The Second World War
The Biesbosch was an ideal place to hide people and goods. The difference between low and high tide was almost two meters, so one had to know the area well. Only local resistance fighters ventured into the Biesbosch. In 1900, a dike was constructed through the Biesbosch, and to prevent blocking the busiest shipping route, a passage was kept open at the “Brugje van St. Jan” (St. Jan Bridge). Locking doors were installed, which could be closed in case of emergency. From the Brugje, one could walk over the dike to the northern part of the Biesbosch (over 8 km) or to the southern part, where a ferry could be taken to cross the Amer. The Brugje was the only place where pedestrians could cross. In late 1944, the Netherlands south of the Amer was liberated. Many deserting Germans tried to cross the Biesbosch to reach the liberated Netherlands.
In 1944, 75 German soldiers and a woman were captured by the resistance in National Park De Biesbosch. This usually took place at the St. Jan Bridge, after which they were held in two reed huts. One of the problems was obtaining enough food. After several weeks, the prisoners were handed over to the Polish army in North Brabant. The resistance also frequently made nighttime crossings, known as “crossing,” to bring people and messages from occupied areas and to bring back food and medicine.
During the war, 16 shot-down aircraft ended up in the Biesbosch. In Werkendam, there are 30 war graves.
Flood of 1953
After the 1953 North Sea Flood, the largest sea arms were closed as part of the Delta Plan. The Volkerak was closed in 1960 and the Haringvliet in 1970. The tidal difference decreased from an average of 2 meters to around 20 centimeters. The Sliedrechtse Biesbosch retained a tidal difference of about 70 centimeters due to the open connection with the river Oude Maas and via the Noord to the Nieuwe Maas and Nieuwe Waterweg. The area transformed into a swampy region where the height difference between the sandbanks and the channels gradually diminished. The reed fields, reed beds, and willow groves disappeared, although traditional coppicing is still practiced in some places.
Storage Basins
For the preparation of drinking water, three storage basins are in place: De Gijster (312 hectares), Honderd en Dertig (213 hectares), and Petrusplaat (106 hectares). Water is brought into De Gijster via a pipe with a diameter of two meters, where it settles. The water is then transferred to Honderd en Dertig, where oxygen is added, and finally, it reaches Petrusplaat. To check the quality of the incoming water, fish are used. If they are healthy, they swim against the current. If they are less healthy, they fail to do so and are caught by a grate with sensors that trigger an alarm. Before the water is used in Rotterdam, the experiment is repeated with trout, which are more sensitive.
Drinking water from the Biesbosch is supplied to Rotterdam, parts of North Brabant, and parts of Zeeland. In the past, Rijkswaterstaat had plans to use a fourth storage basin, but these were sold to Staatsbosbeheer. The area is being returned to nature. A farm called De Lepelaar is located by this basin, where parts of the film Black Book were shot.
Nature
The Biesbosch is a great place for many birds. There are birdwatching huts in the Maltha polder, the Beneden Spieringpolder, and in the Sliedrechtse Biesbosch at the edge of the Mariapolder. For several years now, a pair of white-tailed eagles have been living in the Biesbosch. In 2011, a young white-tailed eagle was spotted for the first time. Unlike the osprey, which only eats fish, the white-tailed eagle is an omnivore. When the white-tailed eagle hovers in the air searching for prey, there is a great deal of unrest among the birds on land or water.
Beavers and Otters
A total of 42 beavers were released into the Biesbosch: in 1988 by Ir G Braks (Minister of Agriculture, Nature Management, and Fisheries), in 1989 by Prince Bernhard, and in 1999 by Drs J Borgman (Chairman of the Advisory Committee of National Park De Biesbosch). The animals came from the former GDR and were fitted with transmitters. They were followed for five years. Their numbers are increasing. In the summer, beaver tours are organized, where reedbeds are explored by boat at dusk. Notably, the beavers can sometimes travel as far as 20 kilometers in one night. It is expected that otters will return soon.
Highland Cattle
On the southern side of the Biesbosch, Jan Saarloos lives on the Biesboschhoeve farm on the Vischplaat island. Jan Saarloos was born here in 1961 and took over the farm from his father. He married Ellie, the girl from across the way. Jan and Ellie Saarloos are dairy farmers and owners of approximately 160 Highland Cattle. The herd grazes in the Lange Plaat, Turfzakken, Lepelaar, Plomp, Allards-polder, and Kwestieus-polder, the last polder in the Biesbosch to be drained manually. When the cattle are three years old, they are slaughtered.
Visitor Centers
There are three visitor centers in the Biesbosch: in Dordrecht, Drimmelen, and Werkendam; two in the Brabantse Biesbosch and one in the Hollandse Biesbosch.
