Overasseltse en Hatertse Vennen

Small area, big images

The Overasseltse en Hatertse Vennen are less than a quarter of an hour's drive from Nijmegen, just outside Overasselt. It is a compact nature area. No sweeping heathland, no dramatic changes in elevation. But if you arrive early, on the right day, you find images here that you sometimes miss in larger areas. The intimacy is precisely what makes places like this work.

The area consists of pools, open heath and scattered groups of birch trees. That combination translates well to camera. Birch trunks against a dark pool, low-hanging mist softening the contours, reflections settling when the wind drops for a moment. This is photography where patience pays off more than technique.

When you get the most out of it

August is the classic period for heather bloom. The purple glow draws photographers, and rightly so. But early mornings in September and October add something extra: mist, dew on the pool edges, and light cutting low through the birch branches. That autumn light is soft and warm at the same time. Combine that with a pool that mirrors the sky and a composition presents itself.

In winter, when the vegetation is bare and ice lies on the pools, the atmosphere changes completely. Then it becomes more about structure and texture. Ice crystals on heather shrubs, the fine network of bare birch branches against a grey sky. That calls for a different approach, but can be just as strong.

Lenses and composition

I like working here with a light telephoto, somewhere between 85 and 135mm. It compresses the birch trees and the pool into a calm layered structure. A wide angle works too, but then you need to get close to something interesting in the foreground. Water plants along the pool edge, a weathered heather shrub, a reflection from just centimetres away. For macro there is plenty to work with: spider webs in the morning, insects on the heather, lichen on old branches.

Practical

There is a small car park along the Maaijkant, on the western side of the area. The terrain is managed by Staatsbosbeheer. Paths are unpaved and can be wet, especially in autumn. Sturdy footwear is not a luxury. The area is freely accessible, no permit required for non-commercial photography. Getting there early pays off twice over: the light is better and you have the place to yourself.

Sources and further reading

• Staatsbosbeheer
• Natura 2000 Habitatrichtlijngebied Bruuk (omgeving)
• Wikipedia: Hatertse en Overasseltse Vennen