Nationaal Park De Biesbosch

Water, mist and tide

De Biesbosch is one of the few freshwater tidal areas in Europe. Twice a day the water rises and falls, though the difference is small, sometimes just twenty to thirty centimetres. That is enough to change the atmosphere completely. Creeks that dry out at low tide fill up again. Reed beds stir. Willows stand half in the water or just clear of it. That rhythmic change is what makes this area so interesting for photographers.

It works best if you arrive early. Really early. Sitting on the water in a canoe or electric whisper boat an hour before sunrise, you have the morning mist to yourself. That mist is most common in autumn, from September through November. The colours are soft, the light falls low across the reed fields, and the beavers are active before things get busy.

Beavers and white-tailed eagles

The beaver is fairly easy to photograph here if you have patience. They are crepuscular animals, so the early morning light or the last light of the evening works best. Look for gnawing and building signs along the bank and you will know where to wait. A long telephoto is no luxury here. From 400mm you can work at a distance without causing disturbance.

The white-tailed eagle has been spotted more frequently in De Biesbosch in recent years. They now breed in the area. You can spot them from the fixed viewpoints, but from a boat you also have good chances, particularly along the larger creeks and open stretches of water. Bear in mind that the nests are protected and that you must keep your distance.

Compositions and light

The landscape calls for wide perspectives. A wide-angle at 24mm or 35mm works well for the classic Biesbosch shot: water in the foreground, reeds in the middle, sky above. But I often find the more intimate images stronger. A single willow branch hanging into the water. Ripples on the surface. Those details are everywhere.

Overcast, soft light is your friend here. Full sun creates hard shadows in the reeds and little texture on the water. A thin layer of cloud filters that, and then the colours of autumn leaves and old reeds come into their own much more.

Practical

You can enter the park via the visitor centres in Dordrecht (Drimmelen or Werkendam on the Brabant side, Dordrecht on the other side). For an electric whisper boat or canoe, rental points are available near the visitor centres. Parking is possible at the centres themselves. In the high season, particularly in summer and on fine weekend days, it gets busy. Autumn on a weekday is by far the quietest option. No permit is required for regular photography, but stick to the designated paths and waterways.

Sources and further reading

• Nationaal Park De Biesbosch (officiële website)
• Staatsbosbeheer over De Biesbosch
• Bezoekerscentrum Biesbosch Dordrecht
• Wikipedia: Biesbosch