• April 23, 2026

Opening of the Sphagnum Route through the central part of the Fochteloërveen

On 16 April 2026, Natuurmonumenten organised a public event to celebrate the opening of the Sphagnum Route (“Veenmosroute” in Dutch) in the Fochteloërveen. The event was organised as part of the Peat Pals for LIFE project’s efforts to engage the public and share knowledge about peatland restoration.

The route was redesigned following the restoration of leaking dikes in this section of the raised bog. As a result of improved water retention, the former Wottle Grass Route (Wollegraswandeling) became significantly wetter. To ensure continued public access to this unique peatland landscape, new visitor infrastructure was created, including more than 200 metres of boardwalks and a route running partly along the restored dikes.

During the event, project manager John Tukker (Natuurmonumenten) presented the restoration works and explained the importance of raised bog conservation and restoration. This was followed by short speeches from aldermen Jelke Nijboer and Jan van Weperen (Municipality of Ooststellingwerf). After the official opening ceremony, participants joined a guided walk along the new route and visited the newly constructed boardwalk sections.

The event provided more than 50 visitors with the opportunity to experience the results of the restoration measures firsthand and to learn more about the importance of raised bog ecosystems for biodiversity, water management and nature conservation. As such, the activity contributed to the LIFE project objectives related to communication, awareness raising and public engagement in nature restoration.