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The brain needs the dark to relax
Sleep problems? This can have several causes, but have you already looked at the amount of light around your sleeping place? During a night walk in the Dark Sky Park near Lauwersoog National Park, forester Jaap Kloosterhuis explains why light at night is a ‘polluter’ that disrupts nature’s biorhythm, among other things. And therefore also of humans.
In the visitor center forester Jaap Kloosterhuis begins his walk through the dark terrain. “After 20 minutes your eyes get used to the dark and the stars show you the way.” Step by step we shuffle behind him. He just showed us a map of the earth and then of the Netherlands. The vast majority of our country is one big bright spot of light at night. It is only really dark on parts of the Wadden Islands and around Lauwersmeer National Park, which has been given the official title Dark Sky Park for two years now by an international organization that advocates more darkness on earth.
Jaap also showed an evening photo of a city miles away. “It is bathed in a sea of light. If I were to make just as much stench or noise that can be noticed at the same distance, I would receive a hefty fine. But we think light pollution is normal,” says Jaap. “For two years now, we have had as little trouble with artificial light as possible here around the Lauwersmeer. Even the formerly brightly lit military barracks have completely adapted its lighting plan and now emit virtually no polluting light.” He refers to light that can fan out uselessly because of poor luminaire design and wrong lamp choice. Jaap: “Now I can even see the glow of the Northern Lights here.”
Light has a negative influence
Why is artificial light so bad at night? It can negatively affect the life rhythm of amphibians, birds, mammals, insects and plants. And every year, millions of birds die because they crash into unnecessarily over-lit buildings, towers and oil rigs at sea.
But it has also been proven that artificial light at night has a negative effect on people’s health. It can cause sleep disturbances, and even an increase in obesity, depression, diabetes and cancer. Jaap: “Every living being has its place in the day and night rhythm. People live during the day and sleep at night. Our brain needs the dark to relax. People have started to avoid the dark more and more. started with a fire in the evening, and now we sit in front of a luminous screen until late. Also in our cities and villages it is much too bright at night due to, for example, wrong street lamps or extremely lit buildings.”
“In addition, it is better for people to be able to see the starry sky. We are getting further and further away from nature, but also from the universe. Only when you see the stars more often do you realize that you are part of a greater whole,” explains the ranger. He sets up his telescope in the pitch-dark forest and lets us look at Jupiter and Saturn, with its miraculous ring. Magnificent. Then we see a shooting star. We wish we sleep well tonight. And that’s what we do, here in the darkest part of the Netherlands.
Tips to reduce light pollution at night, for yourself and nature
- Only turn on lighting when and where you need it.
- Avoid blue light emissions: check the packaging of CFL and LED lamps for information about the color temperature and choose a low color temperature for indoor and outdoor lighting.
- Point outdoor lights downwards and shield them on the sides if necessary.
- In the evening, sit on a chair in your dark bedroom for 15 minutes. Where does light come through cracks, curtains that don’t close properly, or windows? Make a blackout plan with roller blinds, adhesive foil and draft strips and perhaps a simple clothespin to close your curtain properly.
- Are there bright lanterns in your street or neighbourhood? Consult with your municipality about a better choice as soon as the lamps need to be replaced. This can even lead to huge savings.
- Turn off garden lights at night and adjust your lighting plan.
Visit tip
Visit a Dark Sky Park to experience what darkness does to you. Famous are Death Valley and the Grand Canyon in the United States, but the Eifel in Germany is also a DSP. In the Netherlands we have Lauwersmeer National Park. You can also stay in that area in different types of accommodation to really sleep in the dark.
Experience tip
On October 26, the Night of the Night. There are events in the dark in hundreds of places in the country. Companies and municipalities also turn off the lights from their buildings and advertising columns.
Thanks to www.friesland.nl