Kampina

What makes Kampina special

Kampina is one of the larger and more varied nature reserves in Noord-Brabant. Between Oisterwijk and Boxtel you will find a mix of dry and wet heathland, fens, drift sand and river valley landscape. The Beerze winds its way through in a way you rarely see in such a compact area. That makes Kampina particularly appealing for landscape photographers: within a single outing you have several very different types of landscape at your disposal.

August and autumn: the best moments

In August the heather is in bloom. The purple tones are at their finest early in the morning, when the sun is low and dew still clings to the plants. Mist is not unusual during this period, especially around the fens. It adds depth and atmosphere to images you simply cannot get with a higher sun.

Autumn is at least as interesting. The heather turns reddish-brown, the birches and oaks along the fens go yellow and orange, and the low autumn sun casts long shadows across the drift sand. October and early November are the strongest weeks, especially if there has been some overnight mist.

Compositions and focal points

For the fens, a wide field of view works well: a wide-angle lens around 16-24mm lets you include the water, the reflections and the surrounding vegetation all at once. At the Beerze you can zoom in on the curves of the stream and the light falling through the trees. A focal length of 70-135mm helps you look for structure and depth without crowding too much into the frame.

Getting up early pays off here more than in many other places. The area is large enough to photograph at your own pace, but at the more popular fens such as the Choorven or the Goorven it can get busier as the day goes on, particularly at weekends.

Practical

Kampina is managed by Staatsbosbeheer. There are several car parks; the most used are on the Kampinalaan near Oisterwijk and at the entrance from Boxtel. Entry is free and the area has no opening hours. Do bear in mind the breeding season in spring: some paths may be temporarily closed during that time. Boots are advisable outside the dry summer months, especially if you want to explore the river valleys or wet heathland.

Sources and further reading

• Staatsbosbeheer over Kampina
• Gemeente Oisterwijk
• Wikipedia: Kampina