On Thursday we hired to fluisterboten (whisper boats) and had a lovely time exploring the Weerribben National Park in Overijssel from the water. The boats have a small electric outboard, and can go onto small waterways forbidden to noisy, smelly petrol outboards.
The weather was just about perfect and we (DH, DS, 2 GS, plus SIL and BIL and me) all had a thoroughly good time. Sore bums from the wooden seats, but a great time.

We set off from Ossenzijl and spent 4 hours pottering along watching wild flowers, a wide variety of dragonflies, different sorts of butterflies, all sorts of water life, and storks circling overhead.

Anyway you can see a few of the photos here: http://s28.photobucket.com/user/Barg...y/Fluisterboot
The photos were all taken with quite a short lens, from a wobbly boat, so the stork ones in particular are not brilliant, but I like them .

I hope you like the photos, and that I may encourage some of you to escape Amsterdam occasionally.

Nice pictures of places that seem difficult to spell.

It looks lovely, peaceful and relaxing. And what a lovely name for the boats! Thank you for posting the photos.

hetismij2:

I liked the reflections photos. Well done.

Sandy

Lovely pics - lucky kids!

These are beautiful! I'd love a ride like that. The stork photos are really nice!

Thanks for sharing, hetismij2!

Lee Ann

Beautiful photos. That looks like a wonderful way to spend a day. The stork pictures are terrific, particularly the last one.

What a lovely day, Hets! Thanks for sharing it with us. Looks like one of those great "hidden gems".

Thanks for sharing pictures of a great trip! (My sister and her husband had a little boat with an electric motor like the ones in your pics. I loved going out with them; because the boat was so quiet and small we could go up into some narrow inlets of the tidal creek here and we could get close to wildlife: herons and egrets especially.)

Lovely photos! It looks like a peaceful and interesting place.

I loved the storks. What a nice way to spend the day.

Are they all self-drive?

Loved your photos, especially the storks. I want to see one in real life!!!!

Patrick, they do have organised boat trips too, but self drive is nicer as you can go down some really quiet little waterways.

Next time I'll take a cushion along to sit on though.

You can do similar trips in the Biesbosch near Rotterdam, and the Naardermeer, close to Amsterdam too.
Can't guarantee storks though .

Great photos and, of course that wonderful "marshy ground" or whatever which makes the country (for me, anyway) so wonderfully memorable.

What a great way to spend a day away from the hustle and bustle. Oh that we could all do more of that!

It looks lovely! What a great way to spend the afternoon.

How far from Amsterdam is it?

Looks so relaxing. Thanks for sharing.

Easy for you to say!
Reminds me of the Florida Everglades...but without the alligators or Burmese pythons.
Thanks for posting!

Great way to spend a peaceful day on the water and in sunshine; your stork pictures are beautiful. Thanks for sharing.