De Kathager beemden in Vaesrade

The Kathager Beemden in Vaesrade (Beekdaelen) in the province of Limburg is a nature reserve developed on the banks of Geleenbeek brook. Due to many natural events and human manipulation the area has acquired a multitude of different biotopes, including lime marsh which is very rare in the Netherlands. The area hosts at least 37 land snail and slug species, 11 freshwater snails and some mussel species. Nine land snails and one freshwater species appear on the Dutch Red list. All protests by environment activists could not prevent the building of the highway Buitenring Parkstad along this nature reserve; the future will learn what impact that may have.