Vinkeveense Plassen

Why the Vinkeveense Plassen are worth visiting

The Vinkeveense Plassen were formed by peat extraction, and that history is written into the landscape. The lakes are cut through by narrow strips of land called legakkers. These strips of ground, surrounded by clear water, create a distinctive pattern you won't find anywhere else in the Netherlands. Especially from an elevated viewpoint or with a longer focal length, that pattern really comes into its own.

The water here is remarkably transparent. On calm summer mornings the sky reflects so strongly that you can barely tell where the water ends and the sky begins. That works in your favour if you're after minimal, stripped-back images, but it demands patience. A little wind and the mirror effect is gone.

Light and season

Summer is the best season. The vegetation on the legakkers is at its fullest and the contrasts are strong: green reeds, white clouds, blue water. The golden hour in the morning works best. The sun rises in the east and catches the water in a way that deepens the colours without overexposing them. Sunset works too, but the western side of the area gives you more to work with than the bank along the Herenweg.

In late summer and early autumn there is often mist hanging above the water. If you arrive early, before eight o'clock, the chance of fog is real. That gives a completely different atmosphere from the hard, bright summer shots.

Composition and focal length

A 70-200mm telephoto zoom compresses the legakkers and the water well. You pull the layers together and make the pattern visually stronger. A wide angle works too, but you need a strong foreground element. Reeds, a moored boat, or a reinforced bank all give structure.

From a canoe or SUP you can reach spots that are inaccessible from the bank. These are often the quieter, more photogenic corners. Rental is available in Vinkeveen itself.

Practical

You can park at the recreation area on the Waverveen side or along the Herenweg in Vinkeveen. In high season (July and August) the area gets busy, especially at weekends. On weekdays, before nine in the morning, you will largely have the lakes to yourself. No permit is required for photography from publicly accessible banks.

Sources and further reading

• Recreatieschap Stichtse Groenlanden
• Gemeente De Ronde Venen
• Wikipedia: Vinkeveense Plassen