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• FryslÂn - Friesland
• Leeuwarden - Ljouwert
• Franeker - Frjentsjer
• Harlingen - Harns
• Northern Friesland
• Central Friesland

• Western Friesland
• South Western Friesland
• Winter in Friesland
• Traditions and Folkore
• Visserijdagen
• Frisian Flags

The Frisian Wadden Islands

The "Waddeneilanden", the islands off the Frisian coast, provide wide panoramas of beaches, sand dunes, valleys and forests. These islands are ideal for walking and cycling. There are picturesque villages, holiday homes and camp sites. The Waddenzee, the sea separating the islands from the mainland , has been declared a nature reserve. The two western islands, Vlieland and Terschelling, are accessible from the port city of Harlingen by daily ferries while the two eastern islands, Ameland and Skiermûntseach, are accessible by ferry from resp. Holwerd and Lauwersoog.

Vlieland (Flylân), the westernmost of the Frisian Waddeneilanden, is 12 km long and on average 2 km wide. There are very few cars: visitors may not bring them in. There are forests, protected bird nesting places and marked hiking paths. The only village is Oost-Vlieland, as the name indicates, on the eastern point of the island, with picturesque 17th century houses.

Terschelling (Skylge in Frisian, but on the island itself "Schylge") is just to the east of Vlieland; it was ceded to Holland in 1615, and returned to Friesland in 1942. It is the largest of the Frisian Waddeneilanden (Wadden Islands), 19 km long and on average 5 km wide and very popular with holiday makers. The whole northern coast consists of a very wide sandy beach. There are forests, dune valleys and vast plains covered in reeds. There are many walking, cycling and equestrian riding paths. The Landerumerheide and Koegelwieck are beautiful nature reserves with dunes covered in heather. There are four villages: West-Terschelling, where the ferry docks, Hoorn, with its 13th century church, Midslând with its old houses that belonged to whaling captains and Oosterend in the east; beyond that is the Boschplaat, a lonely expanse of forested dunes.

Ameland (It Amelân), is a little over 15 km long and has an area of 60 km². The northern coast has dunes and huge beaches. The dunes are mostly freely accessible, except the protected nature area "Het Oerd" that occupies most of the east of the island and has a large colony of seagulls. In the three villages of Hollum, Ballum and Nes (where the ferry docks) can be seen the houses that belonged to whaling captains and in Nes is a museum that highlights the nature around Ameland.

Schiermonnikoog (Skiermûntseach) is the easternmost and smallest of the Frisian islands, only 10 km long and 2 km wide. Its name derives from the "Schier" or grey-robed monks that used to live here in a monastery. No cars may be taken here. The island has large groves of fir trees and, especially in the east, vast sandy beaches that still grow under the influence of sea and wind. Most of the island is a wildlife reserve and a haven for many species of birds: gulls, terns and ducks, among others. During the time the birds incubate their eggs, these areas are closed for visitors.

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