De Maashorst

De Maashorst covers around thirty-five hundred hectares between Uden, Oss and Grave, which makes it the largest continuous nature area in North Brabant, on a raised block of ground where a geological fault brings groundwater to the surface in springs - unusual in this landscape and the reason the area holds wet grassland and stream heads as well as heath, drift sand and forest. Since 2016 it has run one of the more ambitious Dutch grazing projects, with European bison, tauros - a back-bred cattle intended to approximate the aurochs - and Exmoor ponies in a shared enclosure of several hundred hectares, working the vegetation together as large herbivores would have. Walking routes cross the grazing area, with rules about distance and dogs. The bison have been the subject of incidents and the management is watched closely.

What you'll find

• Thirty-five hundred hectares - the largest continuous nature area in Brabant.
• Three large grazers together - bison, tauros cattle and Exmoor ponies in one enclosure.
• Springs from a fault line - groundwater reaching the surface, rare in this landscape.
• Heath, drift sand and forest - the mosaic the grazing maintains.

When to go

April to October. A day.

Practical notes

The bison are wild animals in an open enclosure - keep the posted distance, do not bring dogs into the grazing area, and take the warnings seriously. Routes close when animals are near them. Ticks are common.

Nearby

Oss is north; Den Bosch is west.