The Frisian islands: Vlieland and Terschelling

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.

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) and very popular with holiday makers. It is 19 km long and on average 5 km wide. 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, Midsland 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.

	Beach on Vlieland	Holiday homes, Vlieland	Restaurant, Vlieland	Oost Vlieland
	Oost Vlieland	Sailing from Vlieland	West Terschelling	Beach, Terschelling
	Dunes on Terschelling	Oosterend	Café, Oosterend	Boys of Terschelling

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