The European badger (Meles meles) is a small mammal native to western Europe and Asia, with large, scattered populations in the Netherlands. As a member of the Mustelidae family of animals, European badgers are related to minks, weasels and stoats. Although they are classified as carnivores, they more closely resemble omnivores with a diet that includes both predation (hunting for insects and small mammals) and scavenging for roots, bulbs and nuts. European badgers are stout-bodied with shaggy gray fur and pronounced black and white markings on the head and face. They are sociable animals with no natural enemies besides humans. Most frequently found in open woodlands and meadows, European badgers are threatened due to habitat destruction and are a protected species in the Netherlands.
The stoat (Mustela erminea) is one of the most common animals in the Netherlands. The name "stoat" only refers to the animal in summer when it has a rusty-brown coat; in winter, when its coat turns white, it is referred to as an ermine. Its long, sinuous body shape and keen sense of smell contribute to the stoat's ability to hunt burrowing prey at night, when they are most active. They are solitary animals throughout most of the year, tolerating others only during mating season or when mothers travel with older offspring. Once common in the North Sea sand dunes of the Netherlands, the stoat has become all but extinct in the area due to the reintroduction of the red fox, according to Jaap Mulder, author of "Stoats in the Netherlands."
Red deer (Cervus elaphus) are the largest native animals living in the Netherlands today, and are one of the largest deer species in the world. Found mainly in protected herds living in Hoge Veluwe National Park, red deer are not an endangered species but are monitored carefully to avoid inbreeding in isolated populations, such as those in the Netherlands. They are ruminant animals with a four-chambered stomach and two-toed hooves, and they experience a yearly cycle of antler loss and replenishment, which is characteristic of animals from the genus Cervus.
Twinflower (Linnaea borealis) is a creeping evergreen shrub found in the temperate forests of the northern hemisphere. Commonly seen in open meadows and roadsides throughout the Netherlands, twinflower is easily recognizable for its twin sets of pink, bell-shaped flowers and rounded leaves. Although it is classified as a shrub, it only grows to about 6 inches in height. It prefers open shade and the acidic soil characteristic of pine woods, but it is tolerant of a wide range of soil.
Red currant (Ribes rubrum) is a small deciduous shrub native to the Netherlands and other parts of Western Europe. Known for its bright-red edible berries, red currant is also cultivated in gardens for its nutritious fruit. It is most often found in shady woodlands in heavy, clay-rich soil. It thrives only in cool, humid conditions, making it very much at home in the forests of the Netherlands.
Although it is no longer a heavily wooded country, the Netherlands is home to a few species of native trees. White birch and sessile oak are both frequently seen throughout the country, although few old-growth specimens remain. White birch (Betula pendula) is known for its distinctive bark, which is uniformly white when young, eventually turning black as it ages. They are often found along cultivated fields as windbreaks, but can be seen in wild thickets in Hoge Veluwe National Park. Sessile oak (Quercus petraea) is a common tree in the Netherlands, both in the wild and in cultivation. It is the most widespread species of oak in Europe after the English oak, and is distinguishable by its very slightly lobed leaves and small acorns.
