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.