Banckspolder - Nature

The Banckspolder is the only polder on Schiermonnikoog. This open farmland lies between the village and the ferry harbour, on the Wadden Sea side.

What can you expect at the Banckspolder?

A piece of history: The polder is named after John Eric Banck, who bought the island in 1858. Around 1860 he had a dyke built to reclaim the salt marsh. A year later came the duck decoy De Kooiplaats.
Farmland: Seven farms still work in the polder. The polder is not part of the National Park.
Meadow birds: It is the island's only meadow bird area. You can see and hear black-tailed godwit, lapwing, redshank and oystercatcher, among others.
Geese in winter: In winter thousands of barnacle geese and brent geese graze here, together with large flocks of golden plovers.

Access: Roads and paths cross the polder, so it is easy to walk and cycle here.
Rest with a view: The Bank van Banck bench stands on the dyke.
Combine with: A walk to the Oosterkwelder.

The Banckspolder shows a completely different side of Schiermonnikoog, with wide views and plenty of birds.

Furthermore Banckspolder is near the following sights: Stables Florida (±650 m), Cemetery Vredenhof (±750 m), Wasserman Bunker (±950 m), Silverwind (±950 m) & Duck decoy De Kooiplaats (±1,1 km).

Banckspolder, Schiermonnikoog