After an absence from the country of over 150 years, in 2015 confirmed sightings of a Wolf were big news in the Netherlands - an iconic European species was present in the country once more. In recent years the Wolf population in Europe has seen significant increases - with a reduction in persecution, and added legal protection, numbers have increased and animals are now spreading throughout Europe.
Few could have dared dream that this initial Dutch sighting would blossom as it has done so in the past decade to a situation where, today, there are at least 10 packs thriving in the Netherlands. The first confirmed breeding was recorded in 2019 and, in 2024, 55 cubs were known to be born in the country. This is no 'rewilding' experiment - these are genuinely wild wolves that have spread naturally from populations in Germany and the Alps.
In the Netherlands, the heartland of this revival of fortunes of Europe's most charismatic predator is in the Veluwe region of the province of Gelderland, and it's in this area that we will base ourselves for our unique long-weekend of wildlife watching, with Wolf at the very centre of our plans.
Accompanied by professional naturalist Dave Fairhurst, and tapped into live local sightings from our Dutch friends, our small group will spend two days (spread over the period of Friday - Sunday) in the field in the vicinity of the renowned Hoge Veluwe National Park. This is a large national park extending over 5,500 hectares in Gelderland. It is a large area of mixed forest, heathland and open areas, rich in Wild Boar, Roe and Red Deer, and rodents - ideal habitat for wolves!
While seeing Wolf is our primary focus of the weekend, it's inevitable that we will encounter other wildlife besides - the area is an excellent location, for example, to enjoy sightings of such iconic bird species as Black Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Crested Tit, Hawfinch, Hen Harrier, and Great Grey Shrike.
The timing of our visit is deliberate - at this time of year, in the late autumn, the region's Wolf population regularly hunt rodents in the open in open areas and forest margins, allowing sometimes prolonged and surprisingly intimate encounters with a predator that normally enjoys a reputation for being shy and elusive. We hope to share such moments with you later this year!
Supporting nature conservation organisations is important to us, and we know it's important to our guests too. This Wolf-watching tour will generate a donation to Dutch conservation body Natuurmonumenten.
Images kindly shared by and © Will Miles & Eddie Marsh
