Best bird watching trails in Friesland, Netherlands

Ameland as one of the Wadden Islands is known for its tranquility and nature. According to some the island is bare, others can enjoy the extensive dunes with distant views and the birds as the only air traffic. The villages on the island are intimate and old. Characteristic of Ameland is the lighthouse, which you can see from almost every point on the island. Wagenborg organizes the ferry service to Ameland: https://www.wpd.nl/ameland/Show more

Note: The ferry does not run during the winter season, so you must take a detour at the waypoints on the map. The Alde Feanen is a contiguous low peat bog complex with a total surface area of around 2500 hectares, of which more than 1500 hectares are owned and managed by It Fryske Gea. The area consists mainly of lakes, peat lakes, petholes, reed lands, scarce lands, roughlands, thickets and swamp forests. There are also trilvenes, peat moss cane lands, blue grass lands and dotterland haylands. The latter types of landscape are rare from a national perspective and are threatened in their survival. Low peat bogs are counted among the richest and most varied nature reserves in North-West Europe. The variety of species of plants and animals is particularly large, as is also the case in De Alde Feanen. There are about 450 different plant species in De Alde Feanen. That is more than half of all plant species occurring in Fryslân. Due to its location and variation, De Alde Feanen is enormously important for water, marsh and meadow birds. Many birds breed in the summer half year. More than 100 species have been observed so far. The wet area is an indispensable stopping place for numerous migrants and winter guests. Characteristic of De Alde Feanen are the wide ponds and the intimate waterways and passages. Almost all waters bear witness to the past dyeing activities; in some watercourses you can still recognize the situation prior to painting. The face of De Alde Feanen is largely determined by reed land. Most are mowed annually.Show more

A varied trail through mixed forests and over heathland. Beautiful views, little lakes, animals (cows, horses, foxes) and many birds. The route is completely unpaved.Show more

Although the island Schiermonnikoog always looks peaceful, that was not always the case. During the Second World War, the Germans occupied the island. They built several bunkers on Schiermonnikoog. This route takes you past the memorial sites on the island that commemorate the war, the Bunkermuseum Schlei, housed in a bunker, and the Wassermann.Show more

The group of islands on the north coast of the Netherlands are called the Wadden Islands, and Vlieland is the smallest of the lot. Still, you can find nearly any Dutch landscape mingled together on this tiny island: forst, heath, dune, wad, sea and the tiny old village. Vlieland is perfect for a day or two of hiking or cycling all around the island. To get to the island you can take the boat from Harlingen, which takes around 1,5 hour. There’s several campgrounds and hotels on the island if you wish to stay the night. IF you need more information about Vlieland or the boat there, check out: https://vlieland.net/enShow more

According to some, Schiermonnikoog is the most beautiful of all Wadden Islands. The small island is home to a great diversity of flora and fauna. The island is ideal to walk around. The dunes with the beaches in the north and the salt marshes in the south can be recognized from afar. There are two lighthouses on the island, the old white and the new red. The trail is ideal to see birdlife and there are many wild flowers.Show more

Walk along the river De Linde with this route. The Linde largely forms the border. The walk goes through the countryside along the river, regularly over old bridges. The only sound you hear are the birds in the sky and in the fields.Show more

A walk on dikes, between oystercatchers. You start in the old town of Workum, with beautiful weigh house and town hall. From Workum you walk on the dyke Zeedijk, through a nature reserve and the old villages of Gaast and Makkum. After Makkum you pass the Afsluitdijk, and you walk through Zurich and Harlingen to the harbor.Show more

The Gaasterland is a hilly and wooded region, unique in the Frisian landscape, which is mainly with flat stretched views. This trail takes you through the Rijsterbos, the largest woods in Gaasterland.Show more

The Duurswouderheide is the largest remaining heathland in the province of Friesland. The area measures approximately 150 hectares. It is part of an almost 1000 hectare continuous forest and nature area of the Staatsbosbeheer around Bakkeveen. This is a beautiful loop trail over the heathland.Show more