Five islands, five characters
| Ferry from | Character | |
|---|---|---|
| Texel | Den Helder | The largest and busiest: beaches, sheep, villages and a seal centre |
| Vlieland | Harlingen | Car-free for visitors, quiet, dunes and one village |
| Terschelling | Harlingen | Long beaches, nature and the Oerol festival in June |
| Ameland | Holwerd | Family-friendly, lighthouse and four villages |
| Schiermonnikoog | Lauwersoog | Car-free for visitors, a national park and one of Europe's widest beaches |
The Wadden Sea
UNESCO since 2009
The largest unbroken system of tidal flats in the world, shared with Germany and Denmark.
Seals
Common and grey seals rest on sandbanks; join a boat trip or visit a seal centre.
Mudflat walking (wadlopen)
Walk across the seabed at low tide, only with a certified guide.
Birds
Millions of migrating birds stop here every year.
Planning tips
- Book the ferry and accommodation early for summer weekends.
- Leave the car on the mainland: bikes are the way to get around.
- Pack for wind and rain, even in summer.
- More in the 12 provinces and top attractions.
Sources
This article is based on these official pages. If anything here differs from them, the official page is right.
- Waddenzee.nl (in Dutch)