Buren – between beach, mudflats and island history

Buren is situated between mudflats, dunes and open countryside. Different interests may therefore influence your choice of where to stay: the main beach, walks through changing landscapes, insights into agriculture and beachcombing, or trips to historic sites. A mudflat excursion and a cycling route with a stop in Buren also offer specific ideas for planning your trip. When looking for a hotel in Buren, consider which of these sides of the island you would like to discover.

Beach, dunes and walking landscapes

Buren’s main beach is at the end of Strandweg. At the main beach entrance, there are designated disabled parking spaces located closer to the beach entrance. As facilities may change, check the current parking arrangements before your visit. During the summer, KNRM lifeguards patrol Buren’s supervised beach. If you plan to swim, check in advance which days the seasonal lifeguard service is in operation.

The Buurderduinen and Bureblinkert walking route offers a different perspective on the landscape. It leads over high dunes, along the beach and through long valleys. The route therefore takes you through three distinctly different types of landscape. This is a useful distinction if, on a walk, you want to take in not only the beach but also the dunes and valleys.

The museum and the mudflats: different experiences

At the Landbouw- en Juttersmuseum Swartwoude, the beachcombing collection can be seen both in the Juttersschuur and outdoors. The exhibits also include old agricultural machinery. A separate room displays wool-processing machines: there, wool from Ameland sheep is made into sustainable products. The collection, machinery and wool processing offer different themes to explore at the museum, from beachcombing and agriculture to the use of local wool.

On the Wad Buren mudflat excursion, participants are introduced to muddy tidal channels and wet sand flats. The focus is therefore not only on the coastal landscape, but also on the character of these parts of the mudflats. This makes the excursion different from a visit to the beach or a walk through the dunes. If you would like to include this activity in your plans, check the latest details with the provider.

Catching methods and regional routes

The duck decoy near Kooiplaats, east of Buren, was established in 1705. During a guided tour of the various catching pipes, the traditional catching method is explained. This gives you insight into the historic site not only through its age, but also through how the catching pipes work. If you are interested in a tour, check the latest dates in advance.

The Het Oerd nature reserve on Ameland is another distinctive landscape: an old, vegetated dune area with several high dunes and damp dune valleys. The Amelands Produkt cycling route runs from east to west and back. It includes stops in Buren, Nes, Ballum and Hollum, and passes various producers of Amelands Produkt along the way. Buren is therefore one of the named stops on this route; this description does not provide information about other route distances or journey times. Check local details before setting off. When choosing a hotel, the beach, nature, culture or a route to local producers may each offer a different point of reference for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Ballum, Buren, Hollum, Nes.

Return to the main travel overview: Ameland.