National parks in the Netherlands were defined in the 1960s as: "Areas of at least 1000 hectares, consisting of natural terrains, water and/or forests, with a special landscape and flora and fauna. There are good possibilities for recreative use. In the national parks, nature care and nature development is intensified, nature and environmental education, nature oriented recreation and research are stimulated." The first national park, in Schiermonnikoog, was however not established until 1989.
... The municipality covers an area of 1500.7 km². Of the total population of 26450, 13112 are male, and 13338 are female. The population density of the community is 18 ...