The "Wadden" sea, sand, water and much more and other Ameland, Netherlands General Tips

Favorite Thing: Between the mainland of The Netherlands and the island Texel, Vlieland, terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog, a very special sea is situated. This is the "Wadden" sea, a place that is dry at low tide and a sea when waters rise. This happens twice a day and makes this seemingly dead place, one of the richest feeding grounds for sea animals and birds. Millions of them find here their breeding grounds or use it as feeding place during their long seasonal travels.

5000 years ago the Northsea created a dune-wall that kept a shallow inland sea. The dune-wall however was broken on several places by the rising sealevel and thus the islands came to be. Around 800-900 A.D. the islands became inhabited. A difficult excistance as the islands were under permanent threat of the sea. Many villages have disappeared under the waves as the islands are moving slowly from West to East (tides and winds ware the Westside of, but deposit sands on the Eastsides of the islands). The sea takes, but the sea also gives. It was the main income from the islanders to fish of live from trade over sea. Now-a-days their special location and wide beaches attract a new income-source: tourism and watersports.

Fondest Memory: That obviosuly still has to come, as I am dreaming to go "Wad" walking one day soon.

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Favorite Thing: When standing on the highest dunetop, you will see in front of you the glorious North sea. The surface can variate from a clear blue with white surf in summertime, romantic bright reflecting orange, red with sparkling stars with sunset as well as veroshious darkbrown with foaming wavetops during a fierce storm. The North sea (570.000 km2) however is actually only a small part of the huge Atlantic ocean (82 million km2). The Netherlands (thus Ameland as well) and the Northsea have a tight bound together. Coastal defence, fishery, trade over sea, colonial times, tourism and also sources of raw material and fuels. Many islanders and Dutch have set sail all over the world, starting on the North sea. The 18th century brought great wealth to Ameland through whaling and trade.
Ah, by the way, did you know that 100.000 years ago the North sea actually was a huge tundra? Mammoths and buffalo's roamed the area then.

Fondest Memory: Ameland's surprising variety and it's rich cultural history.

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Favorite Thing: Do you like the sea and the beach?
Are you interested in history?
Is your idea of holiday sportive activities?
Do you love to soak in beautiful natural surroundings?
Is your goal to get in contact with a different culture?
Want to find a quite place to charge up again, but still have lot's to do?

AMELAND IS THE PLACE TO BE

Fondest Memory: Ameland did not only please me, but enchanted also Ilja very much. Up to today he is talking about "our island", zeehondjes (seals) and the big whale that he saw.

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