Experience Darkness

Are you curious about how you can make your garden more suitable for ‘night life’; insects and all kinds of animals that are active at night? Then join our new CurioUs citizen science project Night Gardens. Plant special night plants for moths and, for example, borrow a wildlife camera to spot nocturnal animals in your garden!

Experience the Lauwersnacht. Walk the planet trail and discover the planets of our solar system. This walk starts at Het Lauwersnest, the Forestry Commission's visitor centre and the epicentre of Dark Sky Park Lauwersmeer.

Experience the Lauwersnacht. The old transformer house on the Lauwersnest site was transformed into the night animal house. The duo Marushka and Laurens from Roeks Rariteiten created an enchanting diorama full of nocturnal plants and nocturnal animals. With the interactive elements, you will learn more about the lives of animals such as the hedgehog, moth and owl.

Above the fire pit in Dark Sky Park Lauwersmeer hangs a rotating star chart with a diameter of no less than nine metres: The world's largest planisphere! This map helps you find your way around the night sky: turn the large gear wheel and set the map to the date of your visit. On the ceiling, the stars, planets and other celestial bodies that are in the sky this evening appear.

Experience the night at Noordpolderzijl. Stroll through the 'night garden' and discover the stars at the artwork Sterrenzijl. The wooden poles with mirrors depict constellations. From the hammocks and lounge sofa you can watch the real stars at night.

Borrow one of our telescopes and discover the night sky. Naturally, the night sky is already very beautiful with your naked eyes, but new worlds open up to you when you can look through a telescope! That is why we are setting up a network of loan telescopes throughout the North of the Netherlands.

Discover night gardens in the Northern Netherlands: gardens planted so that nocturnal animals feel at home. At night, plants and animals come to life there. In addition to the night gardens in Noordpolderzijl and Lauwersmeer, we are creating night gardens in new places.