Cees van Kempen

A journey into the hidden world of the Netherlands, beneath the water's surface, where extraordinary creatures inhabit a wondrous habitat. Thirty years ago, filming there would have been unthinkable: the polluted, murky waters were devoid of life. Now, the many efforts to protect the environment are paying off...

The wolf was almost completely eradicated in Europe over the past few centuries. The species also disappeared from the Netherlands 150 years ago and it was believed that this was forever. Only small populations survived in the large forests of Eastern Europe. In recent decades, not only did the wolf get legal protection, it also started a remarkable comeback. With time this magnificent animal found its way back from Poland through Germany to the Netherlands and Belgium. The carnivore, around which there are many myths and which is very often portrayed as bloodthirsty, welcomed back by many and despised by others. Are wolves really that dangerous to people? This exceptional documentary follows the journey of a young, lone wolf which grows up in eastern Germany and then head westwards on its search for its own territory and a consort to finally settle down in the Netherlands to found there the first permanent wolf pack since the extermination of the species long time ago.

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Five years ago, a unique project was launched in the Markermeer: the construction of Marker Wadden. Using clay, silt, and sand, an archipelago of islands was created where nature can flourish. Nature filmmaker Cees van Kempen made a documentary about this example of Dutch ingenuity: Marker Wadden, a wonderful nature story. The construction of the Afsluitdijk and Houtribdijk dikes closed off the Markermeer, causing biodiversity to decline rapidly. In Marker Wadden, you can see how nature is developing rapidly on these new islands. Birds, insects, plants, and fish are appearing, and breeding birds are once again finding peace and space.