At the heart of one of the most densely populated areas of Europe in a country where every square meter of land has been meticulously shaped by man lie the Oostvaardersplassen a unique experiment in letting nature run its course In just 40 years 6000 hectares of newly formed polder has been transformed into one of Europes most dynamic and productive wetlands home to some of Europes rarest birds such as the magnificent white tailed eagle which hadnt been seen in the Netherlands since the Middle Ages