The beautiful orange Wall Brown, with black eyespots on its wings, was always a common butterfly throughout the Netherlands, but its numbers are declining sharply for reasons that are still unknown. Last year it briefly seemed to have died out on Ameland, but fortunately a number of them suddenly appeared again along the foredunes. The Wall Brown loves warm, sunny grasslands and can be found near stones and wooden fences or dams. The Wall Brown is a special butterfly that owes its Dutch name, Argusvlinder, to the eyespots on its wings. It is named after the giant ‘Argus’ from Greek mythology, who had 100 eyes all over his body. Even when he went to sleep, he kept 2 eyes open because he always wanted to stay alert. In Greek mythology, Argus stands for ‘he who sees everything’. The ‘Argus eyes’ on the wings of the orange butterfly serve to scare off its natural enemies. This makes it seem as if nothing escapes this butterfly.
Are you ever afraid that things will escape you? You can’t always be alert. Even if you have 100 eyes on your back. Sometimes it is enough to have trust and to give your ‘Argus eyes’ a rest now and then, so that afterwards they can look at the world with a fresh gaze again. Do you come across a Wall Brown on your path? Perhaps that is asking for a little extra attentiveness from you?
About the accommodation named Argusvlinder
Holiday home Argusvlinder is a 4-person bungalow at holiday park De Vlindertuin in Nes on Ameland. It has its own south-facing terrace. This bungalow is ideal for families and older guests looking for peace, space and nature on Ameland.
At De Vlindertuin, a small-scale, green holiday park, you can also relax in the heated indoor swimming pool, the sauna and the wellness area, and start your day with an extensive breakfast buffet. Whether you come with your family or want to explore the island’s nature as a (senior) couple or on your own: in and around this holiday home on Ameland you can truly unwind, surrounded by plenty of space and nature.
