Wild horses in the dunes

April 22, 2016

April 10, 2016 -Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands

North-Holland Dunes reserve

During a walk in the dunes, we encountered a herd of semi-wild Konik horses. De horses were resting in a dune valley, and drinking the water of one of the many little lakes in the dunes.

A dune lake arrises when there is a surplus of rainwater, that can not sink in the ground because of an impermeable ground layer. Or when the dune valley is lower than the groundwater level. Dune lakes contain fresh water.

Large herbivores like Koniks are brought back into the Dutch and European nature reserves and live in the wild, to help maintain the natural eco-systems.

Large Route hiking paths are long distance hiking paths (LAW's) throughout Europe, marked with red-and-white (often painted) markings. The Holland Coast LAW 3-2/3 path also passes through the dunes at Egmond aan Zee.

Dune lakes panorama

Dune lakes panorama. Dune lakes (seeps) in the inland dunes at Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands - panorama. A seep is a moist or wet place where water, usually groundwater, reaches the earth's surface from an underground aquifer. Photo's made in the Noord Holland Dunes Reserve at Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands, and composed to panorama in Lightroom./

Wild horses in the dunes panorama

Wild horses in the dunes panorama. A herd of wild Konik horses in the dunes at the edge of a little dune lake (seep). A seep is a moist or wet place where water, usually groundwater, reaches the earth's surface from an underground aquifer. Large herbivores like Koniks are brought back into the Dutch and European nature reserves and live in the wild, to help maintain the natural eco-systems. Photo's made in the Noord Holland Dunes Reserve at Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands, and composed to panorama in Lightroom./

Herd of Konik horses in a dune valley

Herd of Konik horses in a dune valley. A herd of wild Konik horses is resting or grazing in a dune valley behind the sea-buckthorn. Large herbivores like Koniks are brought back into the Dutch and European nature reserves and live in the wild, to help maintain the natural eco-systems. Photo made in the Noord Holland Dunes Reserve at Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands /

Konik horses in the dunes, behind the buckthorn

Konik horses in the dunes, behind the buckthorn. A herd of wild Konik horses is resting or grazing in a dune valley behind the sea-buckthorn. Large herbivores like Koniks are brought back into the Dutch nature reserves and live in the wild, to help maintain the natural eco-systems. Photo made in the Noord Holland Dunes Reserve at Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands /

Konik horses in the dunes - panorama.

Konik horses in the dunes - panorama. A herd of wild Konik horses is resting or grazing in a dune valley behind the sea-buckthorn. Large herbivores like Koniks are brought back into the Dutch and Europeam nature reserves and live in the wild, to help maintain the natural eco-systems. Photo's made in the Noord Holland Dunes Reserve at Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands, and composed to panorama in Lightroom./

Konik horse drinks water at a dune lake

Konik horse drinks water at a dune lake . A herd of wild Konik horses in the dunes at the edge of a little dune lake. One of the horse is drinking the water of the seep, while others are resting or grazing in the dune valley. A seep is a moist or wet place where water, usually groundwater, reaches the earth's surface from an underground aquifer. Large herbivores like Koniks are brought back into the Dutch and European nature reserves and live in the wild, to help maintain the natural eco-systems. Photo made in the Noord Holland Dunes Reserve at Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands /

Large Route Hiking Path marking stone

Large Route hiking paths are long distance hiking paths throughout Europe, marked with red-and-white (often painted) markings. The Holland Coast LAW 3-2/3 path passes through the Dunes at Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands.

Two wild Konik horses near the water.

Two wild Konik horses near the water. Two horses drinking the water of seep, a little dune lake in a moist dune valley. A seep is a moist or wet place where water, usually groundwater, reaches the earth's surface from an underground aquifer. Large herbivores like Koniks are brought back into the Dutch and European nature reserves and live in the wild, to help maintain the natural eco-systems. Photo made in the Noord Holland Dunes Reserve at Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands /

Konik horses in the dunes

Herd of Konik horses near a dune lake. A herd of wild Konik horses in the dunes at the edge of a little dune lake. One of the horse is drinking the water of the seep, while others are resting or grazing in the dune valley behind the sea-buckthorn. A seep is a moist or wet place where water, usually groundwater, reaches the earth's surface from an underground aquifer. Large herbivores like Koniks are brought back into the Dutch and European nature reserves and live in the wild, to help maintain the natural eco-systems. Photo made in the Noord Holland Dunes Reserve at Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands /

Herd of Konik horses near a dune lake

Two wild Konik horses in the dunes at the edge of a seep.

Two wild Konik horses in the dunes at the edge of a seep. Two horses drinking the water of seep, a little dune lake in a moist dune valley. A seep is a moist or wet place where water, usually groundwater, reaches the earth's surface from an underground aquifer. Large herbivores are brought back into the Dutch nature reserves and live in the wild, to help maintain the natural eco-systems. Photo made in the Noord Holland Dunes Reserve at Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands.

Moist dunes valley panorama

Moist dunes valley panorama. Dune lakes (seeps) in the inland dunes at Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands - panorama. A seep is a moist or wet place where water, usually groundwater, reaches the earth's surface from an underground aquifer. Photo's made in the Noord Holland Dunes Reserve at Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands, and composed to panorama in Lightroom./