Vechtstreek

The Vechtstreek is known for its many vestiges of the Dutch Golden Age, including castles, homes, parks and tea houses.

[citation needed] The Vecht River begins in the historic centre of Utrecht, where it receives much of its water from the Kromme Rijn, a minor branch of the Lower Rhine.

It passes old towns like Oud-Zuilen, Maarssen, Breukelen, Nieuwersluis, Loenen, Vreeland, Nederhorst den Berg, Nigtevecht and Weesp before it flows into the IJsselmeer at Muiden.

Peat extraction in the 17th and 18th century turned vast low-lying fens into a collection of shallow, man-made lakes and bogs.

A total of about 70 square kilometres have been designated as a series of nature reserves and are part of the European Natura 2000 scheme.

Nijenrode Castle, located near the river Vecht
Lake Botshol, one of many lakes formed by peat extraction in de Vechtstreek