West Frisian Islands - Westfriesische Inseln

Location of the islands

West Frisian Islands is the German name for Dutch Islands in the North Sea. In Dutch they are called Wadden Islands ("Wadden Islands"). The term "West Frisian Islands" is wrong from the Dutch point of view, as the region West Friesland has no islands.

Regions

The islands belong to the following provinces of the Netherlands:

places

The West Frisian Islands. The numbers mark the sandbanks and uninhabited islands:
1. Noorderhaaks 2. Richel 3. Griend 4. Rif 5. Engelsmanplaat 6. Simonszand 7. Rottumerplaat 8. Rottumeroog

Inhabited islands:

The other islands are mostly sandbanks and are not inhabited.

Other goals

On the mainland:

background

During the last ice age, which ended around 12,000 years ago, the lake level was around 60 meters below today's level. As the ice caps melted, the lake level rose and washed over the dry North Sea. Today's coastline was reached about 7000 years ago. The tides moved large quantities of sand to the coast, where it settled. An extensive and contiguous chain of dunes was created, stretching from what is now Belgium to the mouth of the Elbe. At the beginning of our era, the rise in sea level decreased. But the water had already made breaches in the chain of dunes and transformed the lowlands behind it into today's mudflats. Today's Dutch wadden area was mainly formed during the St. Lucia flood (1287).

Even before the beginning of the era, the Wadden area was inhabited. At that time, most people settled in higher areas or in specially built residential mounds (terpene). The construction of the first dykes began around the year 1000. On the island of Texel, it is still easy to see how the individual residential mounds were connected to one another with dykes.

In the 19th and 20th centuries there were plans and also some attempts to curb the tidal flats or at least parts of it with dikes, similar to the one in Germany. However, these attempts were unsuccessful. Only a small dike near Holwerd, which should have been built in the direction of Ameland in 1872, is the last witness of these attempts. In the meantime, all plans to reclaim new land in the Wadden Sea have been given up. The only threat today are gas wells in the mudflats.

climate

On the islands it is much cooler during the day in spring than inland. Because the sea water is still very cold during this period, there are few clouds. That is why the islands belong to the sunniest part of the Netherlands.

language

Dutch and on the islands of Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog also Frisian (Frysk).

getting there

By plane

The island of Ameland has an airfield:

  • Ameland Airport Ballum. Ballum airfield, ICAO code: EHAL. The airport may be approached by all aircraft from the Schengen area that have a maximum span of 24 m and / or a wheel base of maximum 6 m.

By car

From northern and eastern Germany, the E22 leads straight to Fryslân. This corresponds to the BAB 31 and BAB 200 to the border crossing Nieuweschans. From there the motorway A7 or N7 is called over Groningen, Drachten, Heerenveen (Junction with A32 Leeuwarden - Zwolle), Joure, Sneek, Bolsward to the Closing dike.

From southern and western Germany, the best way to get there is via the BAB 3 to the Elten / Bergh Autoweg border crossing, then the A12 to Kreuz Waterberg, then A50 direction Apeldoorn to cross Hattemerbroek, there after on the A28 Zwolle and Staphorst up to the cross Lankhorst, there on the A 32 Meppel, Heerenveen, Leeuwarden. At the cross Heerenveen can be on the A7 towards Sneek, Bolsward, Closing dike change.

  • For the journey to Schiermönnikoog it goes from the A7 at the exit Boerakker (33) onto the N388 towards Zoutkamp, ​​at the end of the N388 in Vierhuizen aif the N361 to Lauwersoog. There the ferry goes to Schiermonnikoog.
  • For the journey to Ameland it goes from the A / at the exit Dragons (30a) on the N31 towards Leeuwarden until the exit Nijega. There on the N356 in the direction of Dokkum. This road ends in Holwerd, where the ferry to Ameland departs.
  • For the journey to Terschelling and Vlieland it goes from the A / at the exit Dragons (30a) onto the N31 / A31 towards Leeuwarden - Franeker - Harlingen. At the exit Midlum (19) it goes on the N390 directly to the Veerhaven leads. From there the ferries go to Terschelling and Vlieland.
In any case, it is advisable to leave the car at the ferry port and cross over on foot. That saves a lot of money. In addition, the islands are so manageable that a car is really not necessary. Vlieland and Schiermonnikfoog are also not accessible to cars.

By train

For example, you can take the train from Hamburg in approx. 5 hours (with changes in Bremen, Leer and Groningen), from Berlin in approx. 7-8 hours (IC connection with change in Deventer and Zwolle), from Cologne in approx. 4-6 hours (change in Arnhem and Zwolle) and from Dresden in approx. 9-11 hours (change in Magdeburg, Deventer and Zwolle). The prices range from € 62 to € 124 (single and normal price without discounts).

  • To Schiermonnikoog it goes up Groningen by train. Change there to bus 163 to Lauwersoog. Departure at .19.
  • To Ameland it goes up Leeuwarden by train. There change to bus 66 to Holwerd. Departure at .34. The ferry goes from Holwerd to Ameland. On Ameland, bus route 131 connects the villages with each other.
  • To Terschelling and Vlieland it goes up by train Leeuwarden, there change to the train after Harlingen Veerhaven. On Terschelling, bus line 120 connects the villages with one another.

With the ferry

With a boat

mobility

Local public transport

  • Vlieland: Following the arrival and departure of the ferry, a Bus route (110) from Veerdam to the village and on to Posthuys.
  • Terschelling: Public transport consists of buses (Arriva) and taxis. The buses wait for the ferry to arrive in the port. There are three bus routes (120, 121, 123) that connect all the villages with each other. Information on the timetable is available on the website of Arriva.
  • Ameland: Public transport consists of buses (Arriva) and taxis. The buses connect to the arrival and departure of the ferry to the mainland and go to all villages, campsites and other quarters on the island. Lines 130, 131 and 132 connect the villages with each other.
  • Schiermonnikoog: There are two bus lines (140, 141) between the ferry port and the village following the arrival and departure of the ferry. Information on the timetable is available on the website of Arriva.

In the street

  • Vlieland: Tourists are not allowed to drive on the island with their car.
  • Terschelling. There is a well-developed road from West-Terschelling to Oostereind, on which all other villages are located. Paths lead to the beach, but there is no continuous road along the beach.
  • Ameland: In the western part of the island, where the majority of the villages are located, there are some developed roads that narrow to the east in the direction of Nes and the ferry on two streets and again form a dense road network in Nes.
  • Schiermonnikoog. Tourists are not allowed to enter the island with their car.

Taking your own car to the island (if possible) seems comfortable, but it is expensive fun that should be considered very carefully. Neither Terschelling nor Ameland are so big that a car is urgently needed. You can also rent a bike for a lot less money.

By bicycle

The main mode of transport on all four islands. It is not absolutely necessary to bring your own bike. Bicycles can be borrowed everywhere. If there is a lot of people, make a reservation (VVV)!

Ferry traffic between the islands

Travel time: approx. 3 hours Driving days: 1 x a week see plan.

Tourist Attractions

See entries for the individual islands.

activities

See entries for the individual islands.

kitchen

See entries for the individual islands.

nightlife

Vlieland

Terschelling

Ameland

Swinging Mill, Molenweg 12, Nes, Tel: 0519-542089.

Schiermonnikoog

security

Where there are many tourists, there is also the corresponding crime. So: Do ​​not leave anything in the car when it has been parked (e.g. at the port in the parking lot). Pay attention to valuables and your wallet when strolling through the streets or going for a swim. Should something happen, there is a police station on every island (national phone number: 0900-8844).

trips

An interesting variant is to travel to all of the Wadden Islands within one vacation. Either you plan it yourself, the not very coordinated travel times of the various island connections make precise planning essential, or you surf the net a little. Under the keyword island hopping wadden various offers are made here.

Web links

Usable articleThis is a useful article. There are still some places where information is missing. If you have something to add be brave and complete them.