
Southeast
IJsselmeer: Geography and Protected Wetland Mapping of the Netherlands
Engineered freshwater landscapes and polder geography
The IJsselmeer acts as the central freshwater reservoir for the Netherlands, providing a expansive, horizon-dominated landscape shaped by the Afsluitdijk. As an internationally recognized wetland, it supports diverse waterbird populations within its intricate system of dikes, former tidal channels, and emerging nature islands. This protected area stands as a definitive example of large-scale, adaptive hydraulic management in a low-lying coastal nation.
- Area
- 1,133 km²
- Established
- 1932
- Relief
- Lowland
- Climate
- Temperate



