The Dutch Wadden Area / Wadden Islands
Between Den Helder in the Netherlands and Esbjerg in Denmark lies (like pearls on a necklace) fifty islands and islets. The “necklace” begins with the Dutch Wadden Islands. The Dutch Wadden Islands in order are: Texel (which belong to the province of North-Holland), Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland, Schiermonnikoog (all of these islands belongs to the province of Friesland). There are also two uninhabited and protected islands called Rottumeroog & Rottumerplaat, which belong to the province of Groningen.
The Wadden Sea is mentioned on the UNESCO World Heritage list and offers a fantastic variety of nature and activities.
On all the islands, you will find quiet and open spaces, beaches and dunes, marvellous flora and fauna and views extending for miles across the North Sea and the Wadden Sea. But each have their own sights and specialties. Thanks to good connections by boat, you can “wad-hop” to visit all the islands, one after the other.
A touristic attraction in this area is mudflat walking. Mudflat walking is entering the mudflats at low tide. These are specially long walks between the mainland and a Wadden Island without losing contact with the solid ground. Mudwalkers walk through mud, over sandbars and on mussel beds which sometimes still partially be underwater. Mudflat walking is possible between the mainland and the islands of Terschelling, Ameland, Schiermonnikoog and Rottumeroog. The trip to Terschelling is only suitable for very experienced runners, and which Rottumerplaat is due to the protection of nature is not permitted. Mudflat walking is for inexperienced people very risky so it is only permitted under the guidance of the government recognized guides. They may only take a limited number of runners per guide.
In some severe winters the Wadden Sea is frozen. In the harsh winter of 1962-1963 the first ice mudflat walking was organized. For the first time in many years ice mudflat walking were also organized in 2010 and 2012.
Between Den Helder in the Netherlands and Esbjerg in Denmark lies (like pearls on a necklace) fifty islands and islets. The “necklace” begins with the Dutch Wadden Islands. The Dutch Wadden Islands in order are: Texel (which belong to the province of North-Holland), Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland, Schiermonnikoog (all of these islands belongs to the province of Friesland). There are also two uninhabited and protected islands called Rottumeroog & Rottumerplaat, which belong to the province of Groningen.
The Wadden Sea is mentioned on the UNESCO World Heritage list and offers a fantastic variety of nature and activities.
On all the islands, you will find quiet and open spaces, beaches and dunes, marvellous flora and fauna and views extending for miles across the North Sea and the Wadden Sea. But each have their own sights and specialties. Thanks to good connections by boat, you can “wad-hop” to visit all the islands, one after the other.
A touristic attraction in this area is mudflat walking. Mudflat walking is entering the mudflats at low tide. These are specially long walks between the mainland and a Wadden Island without losing contact with the solid ground. Mudwalkers walk through mud, over sandbars and on mussel beds which sometimes still partially be underwater. Mudflat walking is possible between the mainland and the islands of Terschelling, Ameland, Schiermonnikoog and Rottumeroog. The trip to Terschelling is only suitable for very experienced runners, and which Rottumerplaat is due to the protection of nature is not permitted. Mudflat walking is for inexperienced people very risky so it is only permitted under the guidance of the government recognized guides. They may only take a limited number of runners per guide.
In some severe winters the Wadden Sea is frozen. In the harsh winter of 1962-1963 the first ice mudflat walking was organized. For the first time in many years ice mudflat walking were also organized in 2010 and 2012.
Click on the picture for more information and photos.
Pictures from Google.