Schiermonnikoog, a car-free island full of peace, space and nature
Schiermonnikoog is the easternmost inhabited Dutch Wadden Island and, with around 950 residents, the smallest municipality in the Netherlands, yet second to none in natural beauty.
Why Schiermonnikoog: once voted the most beautiful spot in the Netherlands, read more under why visit Schiermonnikoog.
Arrival: a 45-minute ferry from Lauwersoog to a car-free island, see arrival and atmosphere.
Beach: the widest beach in Europe, with a lagoon at low tide, see the beach.
Village: a protected village with the lively Langestreek, see the village.
Attractions: the Noordertoren, Het Baken and the Paal 14 shell museum, see attractions.
Nature: Schiermonnikoog National Park and the De Balg sandbank, under nature and surroundings.
There are plenty of reasons to visit this unique island.
‘Most beautiful spot in the Netherlands’: the island once received this title from the Dutch public, during a major national TV show.
One entire National Park: the whole island holds the status of National Park.
Europe's widest beach: Schiermonnikoog has Europe's widest beach, an immense expanse of sand for anyone who values peace and space.
Arrival and atmosphere
The ferry crossing from Lauwersoogto the island of Schiermonnikoog takes about 45 minutes.
Busy on board, peaceful on the island: the ferry is often crowded, but once you're on the island the peace and quiet will overwhelm you.
Car-free: the village and the rest of the island are car-free; only residents may use their cars.
Beach
Schiermonnikoog's biggest draw is its immense sandy beach.
Europe's widest beach: while most Wadden Islands are known for the length of their beaches, Schiermonnikoog stands out for its width. At its widest point the beach is nearly a kilometre wide, making it one of the widest in Europe.
Still growing: sand deposits from the North Sea constantly form new sandbanks, which merge with the beach.
Clean and spacious: the beach is consistently one of the cleanest in the Netherlands, with an abundance of space for uninterrupted enjoyment.
Lagoon at low tide: in the west lies a lagoon surrounded by sandbanks, reachable at low tide. Once the tide rises, though, there's no way back, and you'll have to wait for low tide again.
Recreational beaches: these lie mainly along the north and west coasts; the busiest spot is by the Prins Bernhardweg, where swimming is supervised and the beach slopes gently, ideal for children.
Village
There's only one village on Schiermonnikoog, holding protected village-view status.
Car-free atmosphere: in the authentic, car-free village you can relax freely on a terrace at one of the many cafés and restaurants.
The liveliest street: the Langestreek is the lively village street, with brasseries, restaurants and terraces between the old island houses.
Founded in 1720: the oldest part of the village was built to replace the village of Westerburen, which had been swallowed by the sea.
Well-preserved character: the old part is characterised by island houses, and in some places old wind walls can still be seen.
Modern comfort: around the old houses in the centre are shops, restaurants and hotels with everything you need for your holiday.
Attractions
Beyond the beach, Schiermonnikoog has much more to offer.
Noordertoren: King Willem III commissioned this lighthouse in 1853, to close the dark gap between the beacons of Terschelling and the German island of Borkum. The tower is still active, manned around the clock, the island's tallest, and not open to visitors.
Zuidertoren: built that same year, 1853, as the twin sister of the Noordertoren. Since 1950 the tower has served as a water tower, though its silhouette still betrays its origins as a lighthouse.
Hotel van der Werff: this building was once a courthouse, a town hall and a post office, and still carries a special, historic atmosphere.
Visitor Centre Het Baken: learn all about the island's history here, as well as the beauty it still has to offer today.
Views from the dunes: from the top of a dune, for example at the wooden Kaap Kobbeduinen, you look out over the Wadden Sea, with the coasts of Friesland and Groningen visible on the other side. ‘Keep walking’ quickly becomes your motto here.
De Balg: a visit to this enormous sandbank, more than two kilometres wide, is well worth it, for example on the Eilander Balgexpres; you can regularly spot seals resting there.
Rich flora and fauna: the island consists mostly of dunes and salt marshes, with beaches, woods and polders; hundreds of thousands of birds inhabit this natural paradise, and orchids even grow here. Half of all originally Dutch plant and flower species grow on Schiermonnikoog.
See you soon on Schiermonnikoog!
Whether you're coming for a relaxing holiday or an adventurous voyage of discovery, Schiermonnikoog certainly won't disappoint. Come and discover the magic of this beautiful Wadden Island. Enjoy the peace, the space and the natural beauty that the entire island, as a National Park, has to offer.
We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful island!
