Submitted by Caira Flanagan on the 2024 Winter ENGL program in the Netherlands…
For our first excursion of the session, our group traveled to De Alde Feanen National Park to learn about the geology and biodiversity of the surrounding area. Our tour guide Harry provided us with a variety of stories about Dutch history, folklore, and the surrounding environment.
The province of Friesland has a rich geologic history of glaciers, sand dunes, and peat meadows. Our tour began with the introduction of peat, its uses, and its climatological impacts. Harry even carried a handheld auger drill to dig into the (frozen) ground to show us the organic matter beneath our feet. As we walked through the park, he informed us about various plants and their uses. Additionally, he combined their ecological significance with their anthropological significance. He emphasized the historical importance of peat to Dutch people as a heat source and as a carbon sink. As people continue to mill peat, more CO2 enters the environment, contributing to GHG concentrations. Harry was full of stories of his own life, experiences, and perspectives, providing us with an eclectic range of anecdotes that introduced us to Dutch culture and history. (Submitted on January 14, 2024)