Looking at the bridge, it is also maybe a piece of art? In Otterlo there is also a squirrel bridge with a price tag of 12.000 Euro and it seems it is still not used in 3 years. My cat uses the catflap only to get in, she still didn't found out that you also can use it to get out. So my catflap is always open, and I mean OPEN. I use two "wasknijpers" to keep it open so actualy I have a hole in the door. Most animals are smart, my cat, and the squirrels in Den Haag are not. It's a little naieve to think that the squirrels are running up and down the bridge, the day after the brigde is installed, it takes time. A lot of time. 150.000 euro for a squirrel bridge is a lot, but still cheaper then a cheap F35.
I think bridges and buildings can be pieces of art when they are designed beyond function. I love the squirrel bridge in the Hague. I think it should become an attraction for the city. It's a great story and a beautiful area. I LOVE that you have accommodated your kitty. I had to do the same in an apartment that had a cat door leading to the laundry room. My kitties wouldn't go through it. I tried teaching them through using treats, but that didn't have long lasting affects. I hope the squirrels will continue to test the bridge and become comfortable with it.
The squirrelbridge in Otterlo - the €12000 one- was kind of a pay-off to be able to build a sportsfacility in that area. Even putting automatic feeders at the start and end of the bridge couldn't entice the critters to cross. However there are a couple of crossings over and under the highway A12 near Ede that didn't cost much and seem to work brilliantly. Every now and then they manage to get it right.
If P Constructor below is right and it was a compensation measure for the building of the American embassy nearby, I might shed some light on it. The EU demands that when nature is damaged, it gets compensated. So, we put that into our national laws. I would not at all be surprised if the reasoning was the following: Dutch Civil Servant to US Civil Servant: We need to compensate nature, preferrably locally. US Civil Servant: How? Dutch CS: There is not much to compensate, but we have to report a compensation to the EU. Otherwise we are in trouble. The Squirrel population is isolated, we could build a bridge over the road. US CS: Ok, how much? Dutch CS: 170.000 dollars. US CS: That much? Dutch CS: It saves you all the legal trouble. Besides that, anything built over a main road in the Netherlands in the coastal zone must withstand 11 Beaufort wind easily. So it has to be sturdy. US CS, OK then. It is a 100 million project already, so what the heck. On a different note, when I was studying environmental science (1988), we were planning to study the effect of the first ecoducts in the Netherlands (I think it was over the A1). I was the only one to be sceptical about the effectivity and efficiency of the ecoducts. It turned out they did not work. The animals had to "find" the new route first. Then it turned out they did not work. The animals were afraid of noise and headlights from the highway. Then shields were build up on top of them. I am still sceptical, but if I talk to colleagues about them, they are adament they work now. I did not see data. I think it is a political measure to show that an initiative is compensated. As the Netherlands is a filthy ritch country, we can afford these things. Although I suspect that the squirrel bridge in The Hague was paid for by the American tax payer (unless it was part of the diplomatic host package of the Netherlands).
@@knowingthenetherlands662 Often they are substantial and help nature a lot. Sometimes, especially in highly political environments (like building an embassy for the USA in an urbanized area) it is symbolic. But I am not in favor of doing away with compensation for nature. Often it helps. I am not convinced of ecoducts. Not even after all these years.
I don’t know why it was so expensive, but it was compensation for nature because of the newly built Embassy of the USA a few hundred meters down the road. And it was payed by the national government and not by the local government. It is a bridge between the Haagse Bos over the N44 to the estates of Oosterbeek, Duindigt and Clingendaal and those are connected to the dunes. And the Haagse Bos is an isolated park/forrest closed in by the N44 and build up neighborhoods. Because of that bridge the park/forrest is connected to the dunes. Sadly hardly any squirrels use it, but pine martens do, frequently. I googled it all, I’m not from the neighborhood. I find it funny that there is an American connection to the squirrel bridge.
Knowing the Netherlands I had to re-google. www.omroepwest.nl/nieuws/3098380/Is-de-Haagse-eekhoornbrug-wel-geen-geldverspilling - and - www.ad.nl/den-haag/eekhoornbrug-populair-onder-boommarters~af4441a9/ - I hope the links work.
Until now three squirrels have crossed! Problem is that the bridge is used by European pine martens that are not supposed to multiply, and now they do! If you want to see a lot of squirrels go to the "Uilenbos" near Lunteren!
Why aren't the pine martens supposed to reproduce? I will keep my search for finding squirrels going. I will put that down on the list of places to look for them!
Its a beautiful bridge. I like the idea of helping squirrels cross the road safely, but maybe it could have been approached different and for less money?
@@knowingthenetherlands662 a few hundred euro , a few poles and your done. ;). Very strange iniative. I doubt those squirrels would even notice it. I's one the biggest urban parks in Europe , , so why would they want to cross the road ? ( Sounds like a joke: -Why did the squirrel cross the road ? -He didnt ..LOL. Oh well.
@@knowingthenetherlands662 It's about city budgets. Every city gets a certain budget. And sometimes there is money left, so they need to spend it on..whatever. Because otherwise they get less the nest year.( This is not some 'right-or leftwing conspiracy. but rather a kind of 'open secret'
People make up the government, so why do they do that? I know, psychologically there are many reasons for it, but I will never completely comprehend it from my point of view.
this is a long time ago so i can't remember much about it, but there was a lady (squirrel expert) in an old thirt without a bra which the state listened to, but back then the squirrels were still being run over because they can't read the signs for the bridge.
B its not about the bridge ,, its so they can say " look what we have done for them" like many of there projects ,, it has become a industry where people work to pay there mortgage just as in the rest of the world lol
Wow.
You really did a lot of work after my comment ;)
Thanks for the effort and keep these entertaining videos coming!
Thank you so much for commenting about it! I try my best to follow through on going to/trying things Know-It-Alls suggest. Y'all know best!
I really like this. You are so funny and it's so relaxing to watch and listen to you. Keep up the good work 🤗
Thank you so much! ❤
Looking at the bridge, it is also maybe a piece of art? In Otterlo there is also a squirrel bridge with a price tag of 12.000 Euro and it seems it is still not used in 3 years.
My cat uses the catflap only to get in, she still didn't found out that you also can use it to get out. So my catflap is always open, and I mean OPEN. I use two "wasknijpers" to keep it open so actualy I have a hole in the door. Most animals are smart, my cat, and the squirrels in Den Haag are not.
It's a little naieve to think that the squirrels are running up and down the bridge, the day after the brigde is installed, it takes time.
A lot of time.
150.000 euro for a squirrel bridge is a lot, but still cheaper then a cheap F35.
I think bridges and buildings can be pieces of art when they are designed beyond function. I love the squirrel bridge in the Hague. I think it should become an attraction for the city. It's a great story and a beautiful area.
I LOVE that you have accommodated your kitty. I had to do the same in an apartment that had a cat door leading to the laundry room. My kitties wouldn't go through it. I tried teaching them through using treats, but that didn't have long lasting affects.
I hope the squirrels will continue to test the bridge and become comfortable with it.
The squirrelbridge in Otterlo - the €12000 one- was kind of a pay-off to be able to build a sportsfacility in that area. Even putting automatic feeders at the start and end of the bridge couldn't entice the critters to cross. However there are a couple of crossings over and under the highway A12 near Ede that didn't cost much and seem to work brilliantly. Every now and then they manage to get it right.
If P Constructor below is right and it was a compensation measure for the building of the American embassy nearby, I might shed some light on it. The EU demands that when nature is damaged, it gets compensated. So, we put that into our national laws. I would not at all be surprised if the reasoning was the following: Dutch Civil Servant to US Civil Servant: We need to compensate nature, preferrably locally. US Civil Servant: How? Dutch CS: There is not much to compensate, but we have to report a compensation to the EU. Otherwise we are in trouble. The Squirrel population is isolated, we could build a bridge over the road. US CS: Ok, how much? Dutch CS: 170.000 dollars. US CS: That much? Dutch CS: It saves you all the legal trouble. Besides that, anything built over a main road in the Netherlands in the coastal zone must withstand 11 Beaufort wind easily. So it has to be sturdy. US CS, OK then. It is a 100 million project already, so what the heck.
On a different note, when I was studying environmental science (1988), we were planning to study the effect of the first ecoducts in the Netherlands (I think it was over the A1). I was the only one to be sceptical about the effectivity and efficiency of the ecoducts. It turned out they did not work. The animals had to "find" the new route first. Then it turned out they did not work. The animals were afraid of noise and headlights from the highway. Then shields were build up on top of them. I am still sceptical, but if I talk to colleagues about them, they are adament they work now. I did not see data. I think it is a political measure to show that an initiative is compensated. As the Netherlands is a filthy ritch country, we can afford these things. Although I suspect that the squirrel bridge in The Hague was paid for by the American tax payer (unless it was part of the diplomatic host package of the Netherlands).
Do you think these mandated "compensations" are just smoke and mirrors and should be done away with?
@@knowingthenetherlands662 Often they are substantial and help nature a lot. Sometimes, especially in highly political environments (like building an embassy for the USA in an urbanized area) it is symbolic. But I am not in favor of doing away with compensation for nature. Often it helps. I am not convinced of ecoducts. Not even after all these years.
I don’t know why it was so expensive, but it was compensation for nature because of the newly built Embassy of the USA a few hundred meters down the road. And it was payed by the national government and not by the local government. It is a bridge between the Haagse Bos over the N44 to the estates of Oosterbeek, Duindigt and Clingendaal and those are connected to the dunes. And the Haagse Bos is an isolated park/forrest closed in by the N44 and build up neighborhoods. Because of that bridge the park/forrest is connected to the dunes. Sadly hardly any squirrels use it, but pine martens do, frequently. I googled it all, I’m not from the neighborhood. I find it funny that there is an American connection to the squirrel bridge.
WOW! I did not run into that info when I was looking. I am so glad you did some extra research about this. Do you have a link? I'd love to read it.
Knowing the Netherlands I had to re-google. www.omroepwest.nl/nieuws/3098380/Is-de-Haagse-eekhoornbrug-wel-geen-geldverspilling - and - www.ad.nl/den-haag/eekhoornbrug-populair-onder-boommarters~af4441a9/ - I hope the links work.
Until now three squirrels have crossed! Problem is that the bridge is used by European pine martens that are not supposed to multiply, and now they do!
If you want to see a lot of squirrels go to the "Uilenbos" near Lunteren!
Why aren't the pine martens supposed to reproduce?
I will keep my search for finding squirrels going. I will put that down on the list of places to look for them!
I live in The Hugue heard but never heard about it. I did notice the structure, but didn't know what it's for...Very weird,
Its a beautiful bridge. I like the idea of helping squirrels cross the road safely, but maybe it could have been approached different and for less money?
@@knowingthenetherlands662 a few hundred euro , a few poles and your done. ;). Very strange iniative. I doubt those squirrels would even notice it. I's one the biggest urban parks in Europe , , so why would they want to cross the road ? ( Sounds like a joke:
-Why did the squirrel cross the road ?
-He didnt ..LOL.
Oh well.
@@knowingthenetherlands662 It's about city budgets. Every city gets a certain budget. And sometimes there is money left, so they need to spend it on..whatever. Because otherwise they get less the nest year.( This is not some 'right-or leftwing conspiracy. but rather a kind of 'open secret'
The Amish can't even listen to Weird Al Yankovich
Most governments seem to waste money on unnecessary elaborate projects that people would not agree to if they understood where their money went
People make up the government, so why do they do that? I know, psychologically there are many reasons for it, but I will never completely comprehend it from my point of view.
Are you telling us the Amish need bridges like this one?
Or would a rope connecting Amish communities be enough?
Don't think a rope is enough, crossing a 16 lane motorway, hanging on a rope, even for Hulk Hogan is a bridge to far.
@@JacobBax Might be, but it's low tech, or better, no tech - I'm told the Amish like it that way.
😂 If it will help the Amish to diversify their gene pool, I am totally for it! I would support the cost of 150,000 EURs for an Amish sex bridge.
@@knowingthenetherlands662 Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Niet zo jaloers zijn! Een knowitall brug moet je verdienen!!!
Er zijn echt een heleboel in Haagse bos. Wel vroeg in de ochtend.
Once of these days I will go there early in the morning to see what animals I can spot.
this is a long time ago so i can't remember much about it, but there was a lady (squirrel expert) in an old thirt without a bra which the state listened to, but back then the squirrels were still being run over because they can't read the signs for the bridge.
😂 I guess the braless situation for the Squirrel Expert was really memorable. I think it's hilarious putting signs up for animals to read.
Could the reason for spending €150K be that the construction company which built the bridge paid off a few politicians?
That sounds like a corrupt American thing, but that corruption can happen anywhere. I think it's a decent theory.
B its not about the bridge ,, its so they can say " look what we have done for them" like many of there projects ,, it has become a industry where people work to pay there mortgage just as in the rest of the world lol
People do enjoy a good pat on the back for things they have done, even if it's not the best work.
Knowing the Netherlands sad but true lol