In 1925, the mayor of Woelderen commissioned the construction of the Nollebos: a forest and recreation area with walking paths, ponds and bridges. It was intended as a gift from the municipality to the inhabitants of Vlissingen. His wish was to give it the name VanWoelderenpark, but this was not realized due to the war. Another reason for the construction of the nature reserve was that it would make Vlissingen a more attractive seaside resort. This was important because, under the leadership of van Woelderen, the city had started to focus on tourism. The Nollebos rose on the site of the former Fort De Nolle. The construction of the forest was also a project to provide employment. The area was expanded in 1937. During the war, the German occupiers placed a number of bunkers and dug a tank ditch. These are all still visible.
Inundation in 1944 flooded the area, as well as most of Walcheren. That same flooding is ultimately what has shaped the area into what it is today, namely a unique area of creeks in which both sweet and salt-loving vegetation occurs. This is mainly due to the salt seepage water that seeps from under the dunes towards the Burgemeester van Woelderenlaan. The Nollebos and the adjacent Westduinpark are located below the Normal Amsterdam Level (NAP), in some places even to a depth of one and a half meters below the NAP.
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