Editing North Brabant (section)

===De Biesbosch===
The [[De Biesbosch|Biesbosch]] (from ''bies'', "rushes", and ''bosch'', "woodland") is an area southeast of [[Dordrecht]] formed when the dike on the [[Meuse]] burst and the [[St. Elizabeth's flood (1421)|St. Elizabeth's flood]]s on 19 November 1421 engulfed great tracts of land in the southwestern Netherlands and altered the geography of the whole area, inundating over 40,000 hectares (100,000 acres) of land. More than four-fifths of the flooded land has been reclaimed since the 18th century. An area of 6,000 hectares (15,000 acres) was left as it was, and now forms the Biesbosch nature reserve and bird sanctuary.
Until the end of the 1960s the Biesbosch was directly connected with the sea and subject to changing tide levels. As a result, it developed a flora which tolerated brackish water and was the home of numerous waterfowl. Since the damming of the [[Haringvliet]] there is no variation in water level, and both flora and fauna have adapted to the new environment.
The Biesbosch is crisscrossed by a network of footpaths and bike paths and by rivers and streams which offer facilities for water sports (sailing, surfing). In spite of the large numbers of visitors the natural environment has remained largely unspoiled.
The Biesbosch nature reserve can be reached by car only from the east (preferably via [[Werkendam]]). The southwest part of the area, with its three large reservoirs of drinking water, is closed to road traffic. The Biesbosch can also be reached by boat from [[Drimmelen]], [[Geertruidenberg]] or [[Lage Zwaluwe]].