Schiermonnikoog National Park

Netherlands, Schiermonnikoog

Hiking
Birdwatching
Mudflat walking
Cycling
Family activities

Schiermonnikoog is a hotspot for birdwatching, especially during migration seasons.
Schiermonnikoog is the darkest place in the Netherlands, ideal for stargazing.

Rules and access

What Schiermonnikoog National Park asks of visitors. Rules come from the park authority.

Allowed

Tidal awareness
Visitors should be aware of the tides when exploring the mudflats to avoid getting stranded.
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Trail maintenance
The park uses sustainable materials for trail maintenance, such as North Sea shells mixed with loam.
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Research
Researchers may access restricted areas during the breeding season with special permission and under strict conditions.
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Group activities

Group activities in the nature reserve must be reported in advance to Natuurmonumenten to determine suitable locations.

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Cycling

Cycling is allowed on designated shell paths in the park.

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Grazing

Grazing is actively managed with specific animals like Exmoor ponies and Sayaguesa cattle.

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Water

Efforts are made to retain rainwater on the island to prevent dune drying.

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Kite flying

Kite flying is permitted in designated areas on the beach.

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Group Size

Excursions require a minimum of 5 participants.

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Wildlife

Wildlife observation is encouraged, with guided tours and self-guided activities available.

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Not allowed

Access
Visitors are advised to respect 'no access' signs, although some areas may require special permissions.
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Vegetation
Overgrowth of shrubs and trees in the dunes is actively managed through mowing and soil removal.
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Accessibility
The Oosterkwelder is inaccessible during the breeding season (15 April-15 July) except for guided excursions.
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Weather
Excursions may be canceled by the guide in case of bad weather.
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Camping
Camping is not mentioned as an activity, suggesting it may not be allowed.
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Fires
No mention of campfires or open fires suggests they are not permitted.
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Good to know

Dogs
No specific information about dogs is provided.
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Trails

Marked routes inside the park. Colours are the waymarks you follow on the ground.

Recreational Shell Paths
22 km · Moderate
Dune Trail
5 km · Moderate
Duinpad
5 km · Moderate
Oude Zeedijk
Moderate
Route specht zoekt een huis
Moderate
Duin en strand route
Moderate
Trekvogelroute
Moderate

What you might see

Wildlife and plants recorded in the park. Watch from a distance; leave no trace.

Roe Deer
Capreolus capreolus · Uncommon
Great Tit
Parus major · Uncommon
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos major · Rare
Scots Pine
Pinus sylvestris · Uncommon
Common Tern
Sterna hirundo · Common
Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo · Common
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus · Common
Various bird species
Various bird species · Common
Bluethroat
Luscinia svecica · Common
Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegus · Common
Grey Seal
Halichoerus grypus · Common
Western marsh harrier
Circus aeruginosus · Common
Various plant species
Various plant species · Common
Spoonbill
Platalea leucorodia · Common
Arctic Knot
Calidris canutus · Common
Northern Fulmar
Fulmarus glacialis · Common
Knot
Calidris canutus · Common
Cuckoo
Cuculus canorus · Common
Curlew
Numenius arquata · Common
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus · Common
Northern Harrier
Circus cyaneus · Common
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenanthe · Common
Lark
Lark · Common
Sea Worm
Sea Worm · Common
Shrimp
Shrimp · Common
Cockle
Cockle · Common
Sea centipede
Sea centipede · Common
Brent Goose
Branta bernicla · Common
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsis · Common
Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricaria · Common
Moths
Moths · Common
Sanderling
Calidris alba · Common
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos · Common
Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosa · Common
Seal
Seal · Common
Sayaguesa cattle
Sayaguesa cattle · Common
Exmoor pony
Exmoor pony · Common
Ponies
Ponies · Common
Crab
Crab · Common
Starfish
Starfish · Common
Orchids
Orchids · Common
Shell species
Shell species · Common
Common Seal
Phoca vitulina · Common
Sea Lavender
Limonium vulgare · Common
Glasswort
Salicornia · Common
Evening Primrose
Oenothera · Common
Viper's Bugloss
Echium vulgare · Common
Pyramidal Orchid
Anacamptis pyramidalis · Common
Ocean Quahog
Arctica islandica · Common
Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus · Common
Storm Petrel
Fulmarus glacialis · Common
Yellowheart
Geelhartje · Common
Beach centaury
Strandduizendguldenkruid · Common
Orchids
Orchideeën · Common
Parnassia
Parnassia · Common
Dutch land goat
Dutch land goat · Common
Northern wheatear
Oenanthe oenanthe · Common
Glanville fritillary butterfly
Melitaea cinxia · Common
Soay sheep
Soay sheep · Common
Drenthe heath sheep
Drentse heideschapen · Common
Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundus · Common
Redshank
Tringa totanus · Common
Bats
Bats · Common
Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle · Common
Mussels
Mussels · Common
Seagrass
Seagrass · Common
Yellow Meadow Ant
Yellow Meadow Ant · Common
Saltmarsh Springtail
Saltmarsh Springtail · Common
Hare
Hare · Common
Geese
Geese · Common
Red Knot
Calidris canutus · Common
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpres · Common
Eurasian Spoonbill
Platalea leucorodia · Common
Eelgrass
Zostera marina · Common
Dwarf eelgrass
Zostera noltei · Common
Songbirds
Songbirds · Common
Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceus · Common
Stonechat
Saxicola rubicola · Common
Blackbird
Turdus merula · Common
Greenfinch
Chloris chloris · Common
Skylark
Alauda arvensis · Common
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticula · Common
Kentish Plover
Charadrius alexandrinus · Common
Little Tern
Sternula albifrons · Common
Arctic Tern
Sterna paradisaea · Common
Old Harrier
Circus cyaneus · Common
Whitethroat
Sylvia communis · Common
Blackcap
Sylvia atricapilla · Common
Linnet
Linaria cannabina · Common
Hawfinch
Coccothraustes coccothraustes · Common
Icterine Warbler
Hippolais icterina · Common
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striata · Common
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhula · Common
Pied Flycatcher
Ficedula hypoleuca · Common
Booted Warbler
Iduna caligata · Common
Herring Gull
Larus argentatus · Common
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensis · Common
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclus · Common
Worm
Arenicola marina · Common
Shell tube worm
Lanice conchilega · Common
Night Moth
Night Moth · Common
Soft Birch
Betula pubescens · Common
Eider
Somateria mollissima · Common
Shelduck
Tadorna tadorna · Common
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta · Common
Woodcock
Scolopax rusticola · Common
Common Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurus · Common
Harbor Seal
Phoca vitulina · Common
European Hare
Lepus timidus · Common
Dune Fritillary
Argynnis niobe · Common

Getting there and planning

Nearest city: Schiermonnikoog

Park facts

Designation: National park
Established: 1989
Area: 54 km²
Visitors a year: about 300,000