Discover Hoorn Terschelling

When choosing Hoorn Terschelling as a destination, you can also take the island’s nature reserves, cultural sites and routes into account when planning your trip. They offer a range of experiences, from landscapes and birdwatching to island history and routes of varying lengths and themes.

Nature Reserves and Distinctive Landscapes

In eastern Terschelling, De Boschplaat is designated a European Nature Reserve. Its landscape includes wide beaches, extensive salt marshes and fields of purple sea lavender in summer. It also includes the Berkenvallei, the largest natural forest in the Wadden Islands. De Boschplaat is an important bird breeding area and a resting place for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds; the wildlife present varies throughout the year.

In 2015, De Boschplaat was designated the Netherlands’ first Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association. Visitors are welcome there at night to experience the darkness, subject to nature conservation rules. Terschelling’s nature reserves are accessible almost all year round. However, parts of De Boschplaat and a breeding area near West aan Zee are closed from March through August, inclusive, to protect nesting birds and resting seals. Follow the signs at the entrances, as seasonal access rules may change.

To the west lies the De Noordsvaarder nature reserve, with extensive sand flats, salt marshes, shifting dunes and green valleys. Liesinger Plak is a wet dune valley where you can spot waterbirds, natterjack toads and various plant species. You can explore De Noordsvaarder by bicycle from the cycle path near De Walvis, following the dunes and going through the forest towards the North Sea beach at West aan Zee. The route may be affected by maintenance or nature conservation measures.

Routes Through Nature and Island History

The 7-kilometre Bunker Route leads to Atlantic Wall bunkers in the dunes, bomb craters in the forest, and former radar installations and lookout posts. The 38-kilometre Art and Monuments Route also offers a journey through the island’s history: it starts at the port of West-Terschelling and connects places associated with the island’s history, culture and creativity. The 33-kilometre Route van het Rode Goud cycle route passes through dunes, forests and heathland, where cranberries have been growing since 1868. The routes therefore differ not only in length but also in whether they focus on bunker history, art and culture, or landscapes and cranberries.

Another option by bicycle is the Juttersroute, which runs from west to east across Terschelling and connects notable places with stories. Those interested in observing nature can find changing exhibitions about the island’s natural environment at Natuurschuur Lies. Various excursions with a forester about local flora and fauna also start from there. Before setting out, check the latest information about the route or activity, especially if nature conservation or maintenance work may affect it.

Museums, Lighthouse and Festival

The Bunker Museum Terschelling explains how the Tigerstellung functioned and how the Second World War affected life on the island. During the German occupation, the Tigerstellung was a key radar post and is considered one of the best-preserved installations in the Netherlands. The ’t Behouden Huys Museum focuses, among other things, on Anthon van Rappard, the Lutine shipwreck and Willem Barentsz’s expedition to Nova Zembla. Its subjects also include the English destruction of almost every house in West-Terschelling in 1666. De Brandaris is the oldest lighthouse in the Netherlands still in operation.

The Oerol Festival also shapes the island’s cultural calendar: every year in June, it takes place on Terschelling over ten days as a site-specific arts festival. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the dates and the programme for that year before making plans.

The Wadden Sea, Boat Trips and Island Products

Near Baai Dellewal, a guided mudflat walk at low tide takes you across the exposed seabed. The Wadkanutocht to the seal bank offers a different perspective: it departs from Groene Strand in West-Terschelling and reaches a sandbank between Vlieland and Terschelling. For this boat trip, departures depend on the weather, tides and the operator’s availability; check the conditions in advance.

Island products include a range of hard and soft sheep’s milk cheeses, as well as ice cream in flavours such as cranberry, sea buckthorn and elderflower, sold by the farm shop at the organic sheep farm De Zeekraal. Cranberrywinkel offers tastings of cranberry products such as jam, liqueur and sweets. Shopping and tastings may vary seasonally. If these offerings are important to your plans, check their current availability before visiting.

Getting There by Train and Ferry

Trains from Leeuwarden stop at Harlingen Haven station. From there, it is about a five-minute walk to the ferry terminal; several buses stop nearby. Bicycles can be taken on the regular ferry service between Harlingen and Terschelling, but not on the fast ferry. As operational information may change, check the timetable and ferry type before departure, especially if you are bringing a bicycle.

Discover more destinations: Baaiduinen, Terschelling, Lies, Formerum, Kinnum, Midsland, West-Terschelling, Oosterend Terschelling.

Back to the main travel overview: Terschelling.