The Burchttocht area is a narrow strip of unique nature near Emmeloord. The area is owned by the water board and is intended to collect excess water (some 240 million litres of water) in case of extreme rainfall. Along the edge of the Burchttocht area, estates are being developed with park-like gardens, many of which are accessible to the public.
To use the area as a water buffer, the fertile upper layer of clay was excavated. The nutrient-poor sandy soil, now on the surface, provides opportunities for all kinds of unique plants and flowers. You can find orchids as well as all kinds of other rare (and not so rare) plants. Besides beautiful flowers, you can see butterflies, dragonflies and birds, and around the frog pools in the area you might encounter the protected natterjack toad. And especially hear them.
