Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland, Schiermonnikook and Rottumeroog are the islands on the Dutch coast of the North Sea.
They all have white sandy beaches and magnificent dunes. Not only for the Dutch are the islands a popular travel destination in spring and summer. With the ships of the shipping company Wagenborg you can get from the mainland to Ameland and Schiernonnikook and from island to island.
Texel is the largest of the islands. In the Ecomare you can visit a breeding station for seals. At 11 am and 3 pm the seals are fed and you get lots of information about the life of the animals from the keepers. Here you can also see a real mammoth tusk that you may even touch. A special highlight is the sea aquarium. Almost all of Texel with its 7 villages is a national park. So you can go on hiking tours amidst the untouched nature with its dunes, heath, forests, polders and hills. 30 kilometres of sandy beaches invite the visitors who like to swim and lie on the beach. And if you want to walk around the island you will have to cope with about 80 kilometres.
Texel©flickr/rs-foto
Vlieland, is an almost car free island. It is just the right place for those who seek peace and quiet.
In the only village you find a modern marina, shopping facilities and restaurants. This village has been there since 1245 and many of the historic buildings still exist. The islands have a lot to offer for lovers of sports and nature. You can do horse riding, wind surfing, paragliding, and fishing. In the forests embedded in the dunes, salt marshes, tideland and beaches you can go on cycling tours or for walks.
Terschelling’s 400 year old lighthouse De Brandaris welcomes its visitors. Terschelling is very lively. Here you find many pubs and cafés and all kinds of activities make sure your trip won’t get boring. Almost 80 % of the island is untouched nature. Very special is the desert climate in De Boschplaat on the southern slopes of the dunes. Hardly any plants are here but those you can see are pretty special. Here you find 9 different kinds of orchids and many butterflies. You also find 250 kilometres of hiking and cycling trails.
Ameland’s history goes back to the legendary times of whaling. Whale of course isn’t on the restaurant’s menus any longer but you can get fresh fish. The light beacon at Hollum is with its height of 59 metres one of the strongest in the world. A cycling tour with this destination in front of you certainly is special. On Ameland there are 90 kilometres of cycling tracks and you can see deer only here on Ameland. Oerdklinkert is a dune with a height of 24 metres from where you have an excellent view. And in April a special highlight is the Classic Car Weekend. The cars taking part in the competition must have been built from 1948 and 1977.
Ameland beach©flickr/Marvin Siefke
Schiermonninkook is the smallest island but 100 % national park. It is said to be the most beautiful place in the Netherlands. The island really has the widest sandy beach in Europe! And you can find a population of more than 100,000 birds of different kinds. Orchids also bloom here and you can see seals. The only village of the island is also called Schiermonninkook and was built in 1760 after the village of Westerburen was destroyed by the sea. You can also walk over the tideland to get to the island from the mainland. On your way back you can of course go by ferry.
Rottumeroog and Rottumerplaat are the most easterly islands. Rottumeroog is not inhabited since the last dyke reeve left the island in 1965. Today it is a special resting area for sea birds. The island constantly changes its shape due to the tide of the sea.
