Lauwersmeer National Park (Lauwersoog, Netherlands)

Lauwersmeer National Park is a stunning 6,000-hectare wildlife haven and official Dark Sky Park located on the border of Groningen and Friesland in the northern Netherlands. Created when the old Lauwerszee was dammed in 1969, this former sea floor has transformed into a rich wilderness of open water, loofbossen (deciduous forests), grasslands, and orchid fields. It is free to enter, open 24 hours a day, and is universally acclaimed as an exceptional birdwatching and outdoor recreation hotspot. It even has a 40k bike route around the lake. (Visited 6/27/26)