Reading the Wild: A Celebration of Nature in Words

There’s a wild world just outside our doors, and sometimes, between the pages of a book.

Last week, the nominees for the 2025 Dutch Natuurboekenprijs were announced. Five beautifully crafted titles were selected, each helping us reconnect with the natural world through storytelling, science, and the poetic power of observation.

The Five Nominees

1. Wildernis in eigen land – Jeroen Helmer (Uitgeverij Lemniscaat)
   A vibrant visual exploration of Dutch biodiversity. Through stunning illustrations and informative storytelling, Helmer takes us on a journey through forests, fields, and wetlands, reminding us that wilderness isn’t something far away; it’s right here at home.

2. Het plantenlab – Esther van der Meer
   A practical and playful guide to plant-based experiments, showing how science and wonder walk hand-in-hand.

3. Van oerbos tot postzegelbos – Paul Behrens
   A deep dive into the history and ecology of Dutch forests, from the ancient to the endangered.

4. Egel in de fik – Thijs Goldschmidt
   A sharp and often humorous look at the absurdities of how we treat animals and nature, with important questions just below the surface.

5. Riet – Kester Freriks
   A poetic reflection on a single plant and all the life it supports, from birds to insects to memories.

These books aren’t just nature books. They’re invitations. To look closer. To slow down. To learn. And maybe to change.

What the world needs now: stories of connection

As The Guardian so aptly noted in a recent feature about the rise of positive nature writing:

“There is so much more to our world story than loss.”
Source

At Terry, we couldn’t agree more. The stories we tell about the planet matter. So do the choices we make in everyday life.

That’s why we built Terry: a tool that helps people turn their purchases into positive impact. Whether you’re buying a book or booking a trip, our app and browser extension automatically turn a portion of what you spend into real support for biodiversity and climate projects like those from The Pollinators, Land van Ons, and Trees for the Future.

Because supporting nature shouldn’t require changing your whole life, just changing how you shop.

Get involved

Want to help protect the biodiversity you just read about?
Download the Terry app or install the Impact Reminder browser extension

Your next purchase could help fund pollinator protection, native forest restoration or regenerative agriculture.

Sources

• Volkskrant: Dit zijn de vijf genomineerden voor de natuurboekenprijs 2025

• Nature Today: De vijf genomineerden voor de Jan Wolkers Prijs 2025

• The Guardian: Hope, joy, absurdity and marvel