On July 30th, the province of Utrecht issued a warning against entering the forest (with young children) around the Pyramid of Austerlitz and the Den Treek estate. Both locations are situated in the Utrechtse Heuvelrug and are popular tourist areas with several campsites and holiday parks. This warning has a direct impact on the number of visitors to the Pyramid of Austerlitz day attraction.
The provincial government issued the appeal following a new biting incident in which a six-year-old boy was dragged into the woods by (most likely) a wolf. The province has since launched a hunt for the so-called "problem wolf," which has caused several incidents in the past.
Besides the direct effect of the call to stay away, the call also creates fear among various groups of people. For example, the owner of the playground The Pyramid of Austerlitz He knows that the chance of a wolf visiting the playground is virtually zero. This was explained to him by wolf experts. "There's so much activity on the playground with people that the chance of a wolf visit is virtually zero." However, the owner does say that his visits have now halved – and this is right in the middle of peak season.
We haven't received any responses from holiday parks yet, even though there are several holiday parks and campsites in the area. Wim Brouwer, chairman of the agricultural organization LTO Noord, told the Barneveldse Courant: "Campsite owners don't dare say anything about a wolf being in the area because they're afraid it will keep people away."
Consequences for entrepreneurs in the area
In the wolf advice from the province of Utrecht To avoid forests with children, there's no specific guide for recreational businesses located in the area. But that does make for a difficult holiday experience if you're not allowed to take your children into the forest, dogs must be leashed, and you must stay on the paths when entering the forest; and preferably not on your own. While wolf-resistant fences are now recommended for agriculture to protect livestock, many campsites and holiday parks have removed numerous fences and enclosures in recent years to give nature (the national ecological network) more space.
The first campsites have now started to install wolf-resistant fences. For example, they have information from camping De Recreatie about the wolf
The Paasheuvel Group's group accommodation in Austerlitz reports that the reports have not yet led to any cancellations. "We advise our groups to stay on their own property or plan activities directly around the accommodation. It's so busy here (566 beds) that the chance of a wolf coming here is minimal. This is what 90% of our groups do anyway, by the way, because we are already in a wooded area." See also: www.groepsgebouw.nl/nieuwsbericht/update-wolf-nabij-austerlitz/
The Regional Tourism Board (RBT) Heuvelrug & Vallei currently serves as an information point for businesses in the area. They maintain contact with the Province of Utrecht, HISWA-RECRON, and the Royal Dutch Hospitality Association (Koninkijke Horeca Nederland). "We are in close contact with many businesses in the region, as many of them are affiliated with us as partners of RBT Heuvelrug & Vallei. We are therefore open to their questions and requests for support regarding these developments."
The RBT has also launched a website with information about the visitors current state of affairs regarding the wolf in the area.
More information: Advice: do not enter the forest with children | Utrecht province
This problem is currently occurring in the Utrechtse Heuvelrug. It's not inconceivable that a similar situation will repeat itself in other regions. The wolf has only recently arrived in the Netherlands, and its numbers are still increasing. An approach that allows for rapid and efficient intervention—with supporting legislation and regulations—seems unavoidable. Hopefully, this will be resolved quickly before truly serious accidents occur.
editors Pretwerk.nl