Climate
Zeezuiper Marsh Dries Up for First Time in 700 Years: 'Unprecedented'
The severe drought of summer 2026 has caused the large marsh in De Zeezuiper, east of Bergen op Zoom, to dry up for the first time since 1300, leaving many dead fish on the ground. Ranger Erik de Jonge told Omroep Brabant, “What we see here is unprecedented.” Since the 1970s, water levels have dropped, and recovery is uncertain. The drought threatens CO2 storage, with trees shedding leaves early and 60-80% of heathland withered. Recent rain was insufficient, and the drought is expected to persist.
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