Let me present Ameland in view and other Ameland, Netherlands Things to Do Tips

Ameland, the pearl of the "Wadden" sea is reached by boat over this shallow sea. One boattour will take place through "geulen" and "prielen", the natural canals that are at hightide invisible at the bottom of the sea. The island is formed by a sandbank that got surfaced and became a dune. In ancient times this dune reached all along the coasts of The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark, but was broken through on several places by the rising sealevel, creating the "Wadden" sea behind them. This sea is one of the richest natural environments on earth, holding an amazing amount of variation in plants and especially animals. Intensively you can experience this, by going "wadlopen" (Wad-walking), a tour on the bottom of the sea. The "Wadden" sea is before all an important breedingground for both fish and birds, as well as a food source for these and more living creatures.

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Website: http://www.waddenzee.nl/default1/defaulteng.htm

The first steps on Ameland will take place at the "veerdam" (ferry-dam) of Nes, the entrance gate village of the island. On the dam one can immediately choose what will be the main transportation. A large bikerental provides you with everything on two wheels (see transportationtips) and there are taxis, as well as several bus services waiting to take you to the village of your choice. Nes is even possible to do on foot. About cars, well, I don't tell you about that, as it should have been staying on the mainland anyway.

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Website: http://www.ameland.com/

Nes, is the place where you will arrive by boat, but is not the oldest, nor the largest of the four villages on Ameland. Hollum is actually the largest and some are saying that Ballum is the oldest (or maybe Sier, but this village disappeared into the sea. Nes is a wonderful place with history and culture that go back several centuries. In Nes there are also many facilities for staying (as well as in Hollum and nearby Buren). It's most remarkable building is the tower, that was used as place where the alarm clock was hanging as well as a sign for ships at sea, to know where the were. It has now-a-days a bright blue clock, telling everyone on the island that it's time for ... (well, just fill in what you'ld like to do)

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Website: http://www.ertussenuit.com/plaatsen/4195.htm
Other Contact: Dutch only

Ameland used to be divided into two neighbourhoods. Nes and Buren in the East. Hollum and Ballum in the West. In some times people of both sides had such little contact with one another that dialects eventually are slightly different between the two island parts. Nes was always the harbour of the Eastern part and now even of the whole island. The village itself is very typical with it's many "commandeurs" houses, fishermen's sheds (as small as the buildings are) and various farms ("commandeurs" were the captains on whaling ships). Streets consist of "kinderkopjes" (small square stones) and are chaotically criss-crossing the village centre.

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Ameland has been struck quite strongly by the reformation. All villages hold a (Dutch) reformed plus a Baptist church. The islanders, always in fear of the rage of God through a storm or floading, had strong ties to the church and being strict on themselves in relation to religion. The reformed believes were quickly adapted by the Amelanders, leaving only a small Catholic community behind in Nes. Their church is the Saint Clemens (patriot saint of sailors) that is found on the Eastern slopes of the village. Pierre Cuypers built it in 1878. Catholic church messes however were given also earlier in a farmhouse near a hidden cemetry in Nes.

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In Nes a very beautiful corner of the village is the gardens surrounding the Baptist church (kerk van de Doopsgezinde gemeente). Hidden in green flowerrich gardens a small, modest, square building is the church. Attached to it a pictoresque white house is the caretakers and dominee's house.

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Within the core of Nes village one can find on the churchsquare the Dutch reformed church. The modest building fits the believes of the strict reformed people as one should concentrate on praying, not gaze around at the many beautiful things a church would show (whic only would proove that the church is actually not living proper itself). Above the door the typical reformed remark that the building is made for the word of God. The writing says: "Ik heb een huis gebouwd voor Uwen Naam, O God, dat ook Uw Oogen open zijn voor dit huis" = I have built this house for Your Name, O God, that also Your Eyes will be open for this house."

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Not many people will see it, as it is hidden in the outskirts of Western Nes. A small street where the eyes will be attracted to large farmhouses on the other side of street, is a small road leading away to the left. On this road is the old cemetry and it shows old gravestones marked with ships, houses and whales. Often the house was for the wife of a commandeur, showing that this was her domain. The commandeur himself had on his stone a sign of the whale or his ship. The old cemetry has a rather awkward atmosphere, full of ancient riddles, mystery and legends.

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On the other side of Nes is the other cemetry. It is situated in the natural recreational area "De Vleyen". On this church there are also some specific graves, the white rounded stones of the well known common wealth wargraves. In the sea and in the polder of the island bombers were crashed after being hit by German "FLAG". The pilots are burried here.
Finally, the Catholic church also houses a cemetry.

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Of course, on Ameland too agriculture was of life importance to the islanders. Small farms with cattle (often sheeps, see local customs tips) provided in milk (and so also butter and cheese), wool, meat etc. Also vegetables were being grown here, but not that successfull. The salty sea air and seawater drenched earth resulted in louzy harvest in this matter. Farmers however were poor in excistance and often took up "jutterij" besides the agricultural business. "Jutterij" was the search for washed up goods on the beach. The law provided in a "finders keepers" principle in the old days.

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