Vereniging Natuurmonumenten
Dutch nature-conservation association that acquires, protects, and manages natural areas and heritage sites in the Netherlands.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Vereniging Natuurmonumenten, commonly known as Natuurmonumenten, is a Dutch nature-conservation association established in 1905 to protect areas of ecological and landscape value in the Netherlands. Its formation was driven by naturalists Jacobus Pieter Thijsse and Eli Heimans, who sought to prevent the conversion of the Naardermeer, a wetland southeast of Amsterdam, into a waste-disposal site. The association purchased the Naardermeer as its first protected area, establishing an operating model based on acquiring land and managing it for long-term conservation. Rather than functioning as a conventional commercial brand, Natuurmonumenten is a membership-supported environmental organization. Its principal activities include purchasing or otherwise securing natural areas, managing habitats, maintaining landscapes, protecting biodiversity, and making sites accessible for public recreation and education. The organization’s work covers a broad range of Dutch landscapes, including wetlands, forests, dunes, heathlands, marshes, agricultural landscapes, and historic defensive structures. It also manages built heritage associated with protected areas. By 2010, the association managed 355 sites with a combined area of approximately 1,029.51 square kilometres. De Wieden was identified as its largest site at approximately 58.47 square kilometres, while Fort Ellewoutsdijk was among the smallest at approximately 0.01 square kilometres. Natuurmonumenten has also owned or managed a substantial portfolio of buildings, including properties designated as provincial or national monuments. This combination of ecological conservation and heritage stewardship distinguishes it from organizations focused solely on wildlife protection. The association’s support base has historically included a large membership. In 2013, it was reported to have approximately 735,000 members, giving it a significant public constituency in the Netherlands. Its public-facing role includes encouraging people to visit and appreciate protected landscapes while promoting conservation policies and responsible land management. Natuurmonumenten is also connected to the wider European environmental movement through membership in the European Environmental Bureau. The organization received the Gouden Ganzenveer in 1986, an award recognizing its contribution to Dutch cultural and public life. Its headquarters were historically located in ’s-Graveland, but the organization moved to Amersfoort at the end of 2020. Natuurmonumenten remains an active Dutch conservation institution whose identity is associated with protected landscapes, public access to nature, membership participation, and the long-term preservation of natural and cultural heritage.
History
Vereniging Natuurmonumenten was founded in the Netherlands in 1905 by the naturalists Jacobus Pieter Thijsse and Eli Heimans. The immediate conservation concern was the Naardermeer, a wetland area southeast of Amsterdam. The site was threatened by plans to use it for waste disposal, prompting the founders and their supporters to establish an organization capable of acquiring land and protecting it permanently. Natuurmonumenten purchased the Naardermeer in its founding year, creating the first major project in a conservation model that combined public advocacy with direct ownership and management of land. Over time, the association expanded beyond a single wetland. It acquired and administered a wide variety of Dutch landscapes, including forests, dunes, marshes, heathlands, lakes, agricultural areas, and other habitats. Its approach has involved maintaining ecological values while also allowing the public to experience protected nature through paths, visitor facilities, information, and recreational access. The organization’s work therefore combines practical land management with public education and constituency-building. Natuurmonumenten also became involved in the protection of cultural landscapes and buildings located within or connected to nature reserves. By 2010, the organization managed 355 sites covering approximately 1,029.51 square kilometres. De Wieden was listed as its largest managed site, with an area of approximately 58.47 square kilometres, while Fort Ellewoutsdijk represented one of the smallest properties at approximately 0.01 square kilometres. Its property portfolio included about 1,700 buildings, around 250 of which were provincial or national monuments. Membership has been an important part of the association’s public identity and financial support structure. In 2013, Natuurmonumenten was reported to have approximately 735,000 members. This broad membership base reflects the organization’s role as a national institution rather than a narrowly specialized reserve manager. The association has also participated in international environmental networks, including the European Environmental Bureau. In 1986, Natuurmonumenten received the Gouden Ganzenveer. The award marked the association’s recognized contribution to Dutch public and cultural life. Its headquarters were located in ’s-Graveland for many years. At the end of 2020, the organization moved its headquarters to Amersfoort. Its continuing role is to acquire, protect, manage, and interpret Dutch natural areas and associated heritage, while sustaining public involvement in nature conservation.
- 2020
Headquarters move to Amersfoort
[1]The association moved its headquarters from ’s-Graveland to Amersfoort at the end of 2020.
- 2013
Large national membership base reported
[1]Natuurmonumenten was reported to have approximately 735,000 members.
- 2010
Management of 355 sites
[1]The organization was reported to manage 355 sites covering approximately 1,029.51 square kilometres.
- 1986
Gouden Ganzenveer award
[1]The association received the Gouden Ganzenveer for its contribution to Dutch public and cultural life.
- 1905
Association founded
[1]Jacobus Pieter Thijsse and Eli Heimans founded the conservation association in response to threats facing Dutch natural areas.
- 1905
Naardermeer becomes the first protected acquisition
[1]Natuurmonumenten purchased the Naardermeer near Amsterdam to prevent its conversion into a waste-disposal site.
Products and positioning
A membership-supported Dutch conservation association combining land acquisition, ecological management, public nature access, and preservation of landscapes and heritage buildings.
Conservation land management · 1905
Protected nature reserves
Natuurmonumenten acquires, protects, and manages natural areas throughout the Netherlands. These areas include wetlands, forests, dunes, heathlands, lakes, marshes, and mixed cultural landscapes. Management is intended to preserve ecological functions and biodiversity over the long term, while many sites are also made available for responsible public recreation and nature appreciation.
Nature reserve · 1905
Naardermeer
The Naardermeer was the association’s first acquisition in 1905. Its protection established the organization’s core model: mobilizing public support to acquire a threatened landscape and manage it as a conservation area rather than allowing it to be converted to another use.
Nature reserve
De Wieden
De Wieden is identified as the largest site managed by Natuurmonumenten in the cited reference material, covering approximately 58.47 square kilometres. It represents the scale and landscape diversity of the association’s reserve-management work.
Heritage conservation
Historic buildings and monuments
In addition to natural areas, Natuurmonumenten manages buildings and structures connected with protected landscapes. Its reported portfolio included approximately 1,700 buildings, around 250 of which were provincial or national monuments. This work links habitat protection with the preservation of Dutch architectural and cultural heritage.
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