The island's finest nature spots.
The beach of Schiermonnikoog is among the widest in Europe. At low tide you walk for minutes over firm sand before reaching the waterline, and even in high season it is easy to find a quiet spot. From the Badweg you are on the beach within a few minutes. If you want to swim, go to beach post 7 at the end of the Prins Bernhardweg: there is a lifeguarded swimming area there. Outside that zone it is wise not to go far into the sea, as currents and tides are strong here.
New sandbanks keep forming off the coast and slowly move towards the beach. This makes the beach a little wider every year. These banks are treacherous, though: because they are constantly moving, quicksand can form. With the incoming tide they also flood quickly, so you can lose your way back. Never walk onto a sandbank, however tempting it looks.
Schiermonnikoog got two lighthouses in 1854. One was taken out of service in 1909, converted into a water tower and now serves as a telecom tower: that is the white tower. The red lighthouse is still in operation for shipping. Since 1911 you can recognise it by four flashes followed by a pause. Because it is still in use, you cannot climb it. On a clear evening you can also see the light of Ameland from the beach, with three flashes and a pause.
West of the dike that John Banck had built around 1860 there used to be a salt marsh: land that largely floods at high tide. In the late 1950s this area was closed off from the sea. This created a polder with a freshwater lake: the Westerplas. It is one of the best places on the island for birdwatching. On the south-west side there is a freely accessible bird hide. Bring binoculars.
Ships used to navigate by beacons. On the Kobbeduin stands the first beacon you see from the village, on the Willemsduin the second. They no longer serve shipping, but mudflat walkers still use them as landmarks. Kobbeduin is the easternmost point you can reach by bike. Beyond it begins the bird area, which is closed during the breeding season. Outside the breeding season you can continue on foot to the Oostpunt and the Willemsduin. Be aware that you may sometimes have to wade through a gully or creek on the way.
At the start of the Prins Bernhardweg, in the middle of the forest, lies the Berkenplas, a recreational lake with a small beach. In summer children love playing in the shallow water. When it freezes and there is ice, people go skating. Next to the lake is Drink- & Eethuis De Berkenplas with a sunny terrace sheltered from the wind: a nice place to rest during a bike ride.
The duck decoy (Eendenkooi) is on the Kooiweg. From 1861 to 1960 ducks were caught here for sale. Today the decoy is a cultural-historical monument and is only used to ring birds for research. You pass it on the cycle route to the east of the island.
Bunker museum Schlei, De Wasserman, Vredenhof cemetery, Shell Museum Paal 14 and Het Koningshuis on Schiermonnikoog.
Read more →Balg Expres, covered wagon rides, boat trips, horse riding, kite flying, surfing, kitesurfing, tennis, fitness and game rental on Schiermonnikoog.
Read more →Restaurants, hotels, beach pavilions and cafés on Schiermonnikoog with address and phone number, two of them close to Hazelaar apartment on the Badweg.
Read more →Supermarket, bakery, fishmonger, cheese, chemist, bookshop, DIY store, sweet shop and VVV shop on Schiermonnikoog with address and phone.
Read more →A 2-hour cycling loop from the Badweg past Kobbeduinen, the duck decoy, Vredenhof and the lighthouse. Step by step, printable.
Read more →Apartment for up to 5 guests on the Badweg, 450 m from the beach.
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