Kinnum on Terschelling: Sand Ridge and Walking Routes

Kinnum lies on the southern sand ridge of Terschelling. For navigation, it makes a difference on the walks described whether the route passes through the village or turns off just before it. The paths themselves also differ: some run along wide grassy tracks, while others include several types of terrain.

The place name and landscape

The name Kinnum is documented in a charter dating back to 922. It was issued by the Frankish king Charles the Simple. This means the written record of the place name goes back a long way; the reference is to the name Kinnum, not to any particular building or accommodation.

The village’s location on the southern sand ridge and the early records of its name offer two different ways of understanding the place: the landscape on the one hand and the history of the name on the other. For practical planning, the named routes are especially helpful, as they provide different details about their course, surroundings and path surfaces.

Boerderij Gèskieker and the Polder Pracht route

The “Polder Pracht” route leads to Boerderij Gèskieker and its farm shop at Kinnum 1. The free exhibition “Het Terschellinger Boerenland: een weidevogelparadijs” can also be visited at the farm. This route therefore combines a clearly identified destination with an exhibition devoted to a topic from Terschelling’s agricultural landscape.

If you plan to visit the farm shop or exhibition, check the current route description beforehand. This will help you fit the stop and visit into your stay without assuming any particular opening hours.

Walking routes: course and path surfaces

The “Midsland polder, duinen en strand” route turns off just before the village of Kinnum. “Struinen en jutten” takes a different course: this walking route passes through Kinnum and turns right at a three-way intersection there. This is a practical distinction for navigation: on one route, the described turn-off is before the village; on the other, the path passes through the village and the turn-off is at the intersection.

“Struinen en jutten” passes through polders, dunes and dune valleys to the North Sea. The route runs along the beach and paved paths, as well as unpaved sandy, shell-covered and grassy paths. You can also choose a route description based on the landscapes and path surfaces you would like to encounter along the way; the surfaces listed are a useful planning consideration, not an indication of walking time or difficulty. Check the current route status before setting out.

A description of the “Trage Tocht Terschelling Midsland” walk, updated in 2025, passes through the hamlet of Kinnum and by a row of three farms that were still operating at the time. The walk offers views of the Wadden Sea dike and the edge of the dunes from wide grassy paths. This route therefore focuses on views of the dike and dune edge, as well as the section through the hamlet. Conditions may vary by season; check the latest route file before setting out.

You can distinguish between the routes by the specific features described: whether they pass through Kinnum or turn off just before it, the landscape along the way and the path surfaces mentioned. If you’re looking for hotels on Terschelling, you can include Kinnum as a place name in your search. When considering a specific offer, compare the stated location with the places and routes that matter for your stay.

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

Go to the main travel overview: Terschelling.