Rewilding the Netherlands

Bucket list ticked.

I stand on the river’s edge, looking out at 22 square miles of marshland and reedbeds. A passing sheet of rain crackles against my coat, then golden rays between parting clouds make me take it off. It’s been alternating like that all day.

A heavy bird of prey lifts from the bushes, and on the horizon several thousand geese rise up and blacken the sky bef…