The complex of shallow slightly brackish lakes criss-crossed by land strips, peatlands, reed fringes, wet meadows and improved grasslands is near the city of Gouda. The current landscape has been formed by land reclamation and peat extraction. The Ramsar Site boundaries were aligned with the Natura 2000 site in 2014, resulting in a reduction of 14 ha. The Site is of international importance for the significant number of waterbirds which congregate there, with average peak numbers of over 50,000 from 2005/2006 to 2009/2010. It hosts nearly 3% of the western Siberian/northwestern-northeastern European population of the Eurasian wigeon and 1% of the individuals of northwestern European population of gadwall. The main human uses include boating, commercial fisheries, farming, and tourism. The Site is threatened by non-industrial pollution and the expansion of agricultural land.